Hardiness zones have changed across the country; climate change has shifted the growing zones northward. image credit: Arbor Day Foundation
As the climate changes, the Chicago region will experience dry periods, severe storms, heat waves and overall warmer temperatures. All this affects the backyard garden. Gardeners can adapt their home landscapes to be more resilient in a changing climate.
Gardeners can also make landscaping choices that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions directly and indirectly, by conserving energy (for example, by shading houses so there’s less need to run an air conditioner), using water wisely (planting native gardens, for example), selecting materials (using compost instead of peat) and more.