(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — Back away from the spade and trowel! Our weather patterns may put a delay on your April gardening plans.

Some gardeners use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to Determine when you should plant. The Plant Hardiness Zone Map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures (based on a 30-year average from 1991-2020) displayed as 10-degree Fahrenheit zones ranging from zone 1 (coldest) to zone 13 ( warmest). Each zone is divided into half zones designated as “a” and “b”.

Note this does not represent the coldest years or warmest years ever, but the average. Gardeners should also keep in mind that past weather records cannot provide a guaranteed forecast for future variations in weather. These designations serve as convenient labels and shorthand for communicating extreme temperatures in the U.S. Zone numbers are typically listed with the descriptions of perennial plants in catalogs and other sales information by plant suppliers. You can find the zone for your area below.

This is all well and good, but in addition to zones, you should take other weather patterns into account. According to the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the snow season isn’t over just yet. The chart below shows the peak of snow season for the state of Colorado is actually in April. Also, weather data from previous years and the Master Gardeners from Colorado State University say that frost can exist into early May. Other factors that play into making considerations for your garden include light, soil moisture, temperature of the current season, duration of exposure to cold, and humidity. 

So, from a weather perspective, it might be best to hold off until after early May to plant. If you are really itching to put flowers in the garden or on your front porch, consider putting the flowers in a pot that you can cover or bring inside when snow and freezing temperatures are in the forecast.