134 Smoke vs Your Garden. Know Your USDA Zones. Plant Protection Preparation.

Many gardeners in the western United States are breathing in wildfire smoke. So are your plants. What does smoke and falling ash do to the health of a plant? And what can you do about it? And, oddly enough, there are some benefits to that pollution. For Eastern and Midwestern gardeners, now’s the time to plan for protecting your young, fruit producing trees and shrubs this fall and winter. We'll tell you why. Do you know your USDA Plant Hardiness zone? We talk about that, and a better resource for figuring out your plants’ needs based on where you live. It’s on episode 134 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go! Pictured: The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Links: Smart Pots Books by Lance Walheim on Roses, Citrus, Lawns, Landscaping USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Maps Sunset Garden Climate Zone Maps Sunset National Garden Book Southern Living Garden Book Sunset Western Garden Book Sunset Midwestern Landscaping Book UC Botanical Garden - The Effect of Smoke, Ash on Plants Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences - Wildfire-Smoke Aerosols Lead to Increased Light Use Efficiency More episodes and info available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Garden Basics comes out every Tuesday and Friday. More info including live links, product information, transcripts, and chapters available at the home site for Garden Basics with Farmer Fred . Please subscribe, and, if you are listening on Apple , please leave a comment or rating. That helps us decide which garden topics you would like to see addressed. Got a garden question? There are several ways to get in touch: • leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe , at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com • Leave a question at the Facebook, Twitter or Instagram locations below. Be sure to tell us where you are when you leave a question, because all gardening is local. And thank you for listening. All About Farmer Fred: Farmer Fred website: http://farmerfred.com Daily Garden tips and snark on Twitter The Farmer Fred Rant! Blog Facebook: "Get Growing with Farmer Fred " Instagram: farmerfredhoffman Farmer Fred Garden Videos on YouTube Sign up for the new Garden Basics newsletter , on Thank you for listening, subscribing and commenting on the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast and the Beyond the Garden Basics Newsletter .