When to Dig Up Dahlias, Cannas and Gladiolus in Alaska
In Alaska, dahlias, cannas and gladiolus come out of the ground every fall. The signal is the first frost that blackens the leaves, which in Anchorage…
Gardening in Alaska
Everything we have worked out for Alaska: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Anchorage, the last spring freeze runs May 3 to May 12 and the first fall freeze runs September 22 to October 1, USDA zones 1a-8a, 917 growing degree days in the year.
That is little accumulated warmth: tomatoes need a tunnel or a greenhouse here, whatever the frost dates suggest. Garlic does well: 34.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Alaska: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in Alaska
Sprinklers and outdoor spigots in Alaska get shut down in September, not November.
Hedge Plants for Alaska: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
The honest answer is that no single hedge species covers Alaska, because Alaska itself covers USDA zones 1a through 8a, a spread wider than almost…
What Do Homes in Alaska Cool With?
Air conditioning barely registers in Alaska. Just 7% of homes run any kind of cooling equipment at all, and almost every one of those is an individual…
When to Pull Carrots in Alaska, and How to Keep Them
Carrots in Alaska come out of the ground when the shoulders push up through the soil surface and the tops start to yellow and flop, usually somewhere…
How High Can a Hedge Be in Alaska? What the Law Actually Says
Search “hedge height law Alaska” and you won’t find a statewide number, because there isn’t one.
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in Alaska
Anchorage’s ASCE 7-16 design figures for ground snow load and wind speed, what they convert to on a roof, and how Alaska handles ice barrier rules locally.
Protecting Hydrangeas Through a Alaska Winter
Protecting hydrangeas through an Alaska winter means having mulch, wraps, or burlap fully in place before the first fall frost hits Anchorage, typically…
Protecting Roses Through a Alaska Winter
Roses in Alaska need winter protection almost everywhere the plant survives outdoors, because the state’s growing season is short and its winter cold is…
When to Overseed a Lawn in Alaska
In and around Anchorage, the safe window for overseeding a cool-season lawn runs from mid-July through early-to-mid August, timed to give new grass…