{"id":30150,"date":"2026-06-30T13:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/jefferson\/?page_id=30150"},"modified":"2026-06-30T13:24:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:24:11","slug":"tip-sheet-3-new-to-gardening-in-western-washington","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/jefferson\/mg-home\/tip-sheet-3-new-to-gardening-in-western-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Tip Sheet #3: New to Gardening in Western Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n \n
\r\n\t\n\n

Have a New Home?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Get acquainted with your landscape. Make a sketch of the yard and label all the plants you can identify. If you can, ask the seller about plants you don\u2019t recognize. Note which areas get sun or shade. To help you remember plants in the future, set up a folder labeled \u201cplant tags.\u201d As you buy plants, just put the tag that describes them into the folder. You may not want to make major changes the first year. Instead, update your sketch as the seasons change. You may find plants emerging that you didn\u2019t know were there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call Before You Dig<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you plan to dig more than 12 inches underground, Washington law requires you to have utility lines located and marked so they won\u2019t be damaged. Call 811 two business days before you dig. Once utility lines are located (a free service), mark them on the landscape sketch you made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the Right Plants<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stay \u201cIn the Zone\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maps the country into hardiness zones based on average lowest winter temperature: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.<\/a>  Their 2023 update categorizes most of Port Townsend as 8b (15 to 20 \u00b0F\/-9.4 to -6.7 \u00b0C), with some small areas classified as 9a (20 to 25 \u00b0F\/-6.7 to -3.9 \u00b0C (mostly located along the water in NE Port Townsend, northern Marrowstone and scattered areas around DIsco Bay). First and last frost dates vary with elevation as well as location (proximity to bodies of water, rainshadow effect, etc) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port Townsend, WA (Jefferson county)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Temp<\/strong> <\/td>10%<\/td>20%<\/td>30%<\/td>40%<\/td>50%<\/td>60%<\/td>70%<\/td>80%<\/td>90%<\/td><\/tr>
Spring 32\u00b0 <\/td>Mar 28<\/td>Mar 18<\/td>Mar 10<\/td>Mar 2<\/td>Feb 25<\/td>Feb 19<\/td>Feb 12<\/td>Feb 4<\/td>Jan 24<\/td><\/tr>
Spring 28\u00b0 <\/td>Mar 2<\/td>Feb 19<\/td>Feb 12<\/td>Feb 5<\/td>Jan 29<\/td>Jan 23<\/td>Jan 15<\/td>Jan 5<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Fall 32\u00b0 <\/td>Oct 31<\/td>Nov 9<\/td>Nov 16<\/td>Nov 22<\/td>Nov 27<\/td>Dec 3<\/td>Dec 9<\/td>Dec 16<\/td>Dec 25<\/td><\/tr>
Fall 28\u00b0 <\/td>Nov 15<\/td>Nov 26<\/td>Dec 5<\/td>Dec 13<\/td>Dec 20<\/td>Dec 27<\/td>Jan 5<\/td>Jan 16<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Port Townsend WA, Chance of Frost Dates for specific temperatures in Spring and Fall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Quilcene, WA (Jefferson county)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Temp<\/strong> <\/td>10%<\/td>20%<\/td>30%<\/td>40%<\/td>50%<\/td>60%<\/td>70%<\/td>80%<\/td>90%<\/td><\/tr>
Spring 32\u00b0 <\/td>May 6<\/td>Apr 23<\/td>Apr 14<\/td>Apr 7<\/td>Mar 30<\/td>Mar 23<\/td>Mar 15<\/td>Mar 6<\/td>Feb 21<\/td><\/tr>
Spring 28\u00b0 <\/td>Apr 3<\/td>Mar 20<\/td>Mar 9<\/td>Feb 28<\/td>Feb 19<\/td>Feb 11<\/td>Feb 1<\/td>Jan 21<\/td>Jan 3<\/td><\/tr>
Fall 32\u00b0 <\/td>Oct 18<\/td>Oct 26<\/td>Oct 31<\/td>Nov 5<\/td>Nov 10<\/td>Nov 14<\/td>Nov 19<\/td>Nov 25<\/td>Dec 5<\/td><\/tr>
Fall 28\u00b0 <\/td>Nov 7<\/td>Nov 17<\/td>Nov 24<\/td>Nov 29<\/td>Dec 6<\/td>Dec 12<\/td>Dec 18<\/td>Dec 25<\/td>Jan 5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Quilcene WA, Chance of Frost Dates for specific temperatures in Spring and Fall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n
\r\n\t\n
\r\n \n\n

More Information<\/h2>\n\n\n