Gardeners should take care to match their gardens to the local climate, especially if they want their gardens to thrive. This is where hardiness zones come in handy.
What is a Hardiness Zone?
Hardiness Zones are geographic areas where certain plants grow best in that area’s climate. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides the North American continent into 13 zones. On average, each zone is 10 degrees different during the winter from the zone next to it.
These zones may be printed on a plant description or in a gardening catalog to help gardeners determine whether the plant is suited for their area.
How can they help gardeners?
For the most part, hardiness zones help gardeners determine whether a plant can withstand the winter temperatures of the area. This data allows gardeners to avoid planting something that would not survive those temperatures.
These maps are even more important for any native gardeners or those who wish to grow shrubs, perennials, or trees. Such plants need to survive the conditions of the area year-round to reach their full potential, from the summer’s highest temperatures to the winter’s lowest.
It should be noted that no zoning system is perfect. Although these zones are created to guide gardeners, there may be microclimates in the garden’s area that will impact how the plants grow.
For more information on gardening, check out the Senior Security Alliance USA. We post weekly updates regarding various gardening information, tips, and tricks for gardeners of all levels.
