Gardening is a tricky thing up here in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Recently, I got an inquiry from a resident new to the area. She moved up here last year from the west side of Santa Cruz. Not that far away on the map.
It’s a world of difference in soils and climate.
She lamented, “I can’t believe the difference in the soil here. I lived a mile from the beach, and now that I’m miles away, I have the sandiest soil ever.” Welcome to our wonderful world.
Our soils were formed from marine deposits and from molten rock emerging from the earth’s crust. Areas underlain with shale creep and slide during wet weather. Serpentine and granite soils crisscross the mountains.
What’s a gardener to do?
It helps to know which zone you garden in. The latest Sunset Western Gardening Guide is confusing, because our area has many microclimates and its map is not detailed enough to reflect that. It even shows Felton as being on a ridge top instead of on the valley floor. Here’s hoping the new Sunset book, out this month, will be more accurate.
Here are some tips to help you determine which zone you live in:
– Zone 7 has the coldest winters in our area. Very high ridge tops, like the Summit area and the most northern portions of Bonny Doon, lie in this zone. My records show average winter lows ranging from 15 to 25 degrees based on 20 years of input from gardeners in those areas. This does not apply to other areas of Zone 7, just those around here. Record lows have occurred during freezes in 1990, 1996 and 2007, but as gardeners, we rely on average highs and lows to help guide our planting times. Spring weather comes later in this zone, with the growing season mainly from April through October.
– Zone 15 encompasses most of our area. Winter lows average from 20 to 30 degrees. The valley floors of both the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley lie in this zone and are what I call a cold 15. Cold air sinks and is trapped in these areas. Often, there is damage to the tips of oleanders and citrus, while gardenias and tropical hibiscus need extra protection. There are warmer parts of this zone, though, where the growing season starts in March and ends in November. Those areas rarely get a freeze after March 15 or before Thanksgiving.
– Zone 16 covers those who live up off the valley floor but below ridge tops. Pasatiempo also falls in this “banana belt.” Light frost can occur during the winter, but mostly, the winter lows in this zone stay above freezing. Lucky you.
Besides the zone, you also need to note how much sun or shade you get during the growing season, April through September. Most plants can survive without sun during the winter, as they are either dormant or semi dormant. It’s those areas that get a blast of sun from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the summer that you need to plan more carefully for.
There may also be microclimates on your property — areas in your garden that are several degrees warmer than other spots. There might be a brick wall or the top of a slope where cold air drains away, generating a few extra degrees. Planting citrus at the top of a slope that drains away the cold will make your tree much happier than if it were planted in a low, open area.
If you have questions about which zone you are in, email me, and I’d be happy to help.
– Jan Nelson, a landscape designer and California certified nursery professional, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Email her at [email protected], or visit www.jannelsonlandscapedesign.com to view past columns and pictures.
