Ohio Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Annual Rainfall
36-42 inches annually
Frost Window
May-October
Water Notes
Adequate rainfall; supplemental watering in dry periods
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Ohio's unique climate and landscape
Classic mixed border with reliable hardy perennials
Key Features:
- ā¢Coneflowers and black-eyed Susans
- ā¢Peonies and daylilies
- ā¢Ornamental grasses
- ā¢Layered seasonal interest
Low-maintenance meadow with Ohio prairie plants
Key Features:
- ā¢Big bluestem and switchgrass
- ā¢Native wildflowers
- ā¢Butterfly and pollinator plants
- ā¢Minimal irrigation
Layered planting under deciduous canopy
Key Features:
- ā¢Native ferns and wildflowers
- ā¢Hostas and astilbes
- ā¢Spring ephemerals
- ā¢Naturalistic groundcovers
Year-round interest with evergreens and winter structure
Key Features:
- ā¢Evergreen shrubs
- ā¢Ornamental grasses
- ā¢Berry-producing plants
- ā¢Colorful bark and stems
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Ohio's climate
Ohio Buckeye
Aesculus glabra
State tree with yellow flower spikes
Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum
White three-petaled spring wildflower
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Scarlet red spikes attract hummingbirds
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Yellow spring flowers; host plant for swallowtails
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Pink-purple daisies; drought-tolerant
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Golden yellow flowers; prolific reseeder
Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Reliable bloomer with countless varieties
Hosta
Hosta spp.
Shade-loving foliage plant; many cultivars
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Native prairie grass with copper fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Upright native with red fall tints
Indian Grass
Sorghastr um nutans
Golden plumes in fall; important prairie species
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Tall prairie grass; burgundy fall color
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Ohio garden
Plant spring bulbs and divide perennials
Mulch beds and protect tender plants
Plan garden and order seeds
Prune roses and start seeds indoors
Plant vegetables after last frost
Deadhead flowers and water during dry spells
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Ohio
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