Plant Hardiness Zones

When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select plants that will grow in your climate. The United States has 10 of growing or climate zones. These zones range from the zone 1 in the extreme northern part of United States, to his own 10, which covers the southernmost part. Zone 1, is for the most hardiest of cold weather plants. Temperatures in zone 1 can reach 50 degrees below 0. Zone 10 on the other hand, is is a more tropical climate. Zone 10 plants only need to worry about cold temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees.

Your local nursery or garden center should have plants that are appropriate for your climate zone. however, if you are buying your seeds or plants over the Internet and, or through a catalog, you need to know which climate zone you live in. For example southern Florida, extreme southern Texas, and parts of California, are in Zone 10. the rest of Florida, parts of Louisiana, Texas, and much of California, or in zone 9. Zone 8 covers much of the Southeast from eastern Virginia through the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and much of Texas. Zone 7 covers an area a little farther north than Zone 8. states in June 7th include Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, in parts of Texas. Zones 5 and 6 cover much of the middle part of United States from the New England states through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and even much of the desert Southwest, including Nevada. Zone 4 is somewhat colder climates include states such as Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, northern New York State, the Wisconsin, South Dakota, states in the Rocky Mountains, in Montana. Zone 3 includes the cold states such as northern mean, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Zones 1and 2 are mostly found in Canada.

Average minimum temperatures for each zone
Zone 1: below minus 50 degrees
Zone to:-50 degrees to minus 40 degrees
Zone 3:-40 degrees to minus 30 degrees
Zone for:-30 degrees to -23 is
Zone 5-20 degrees to minus 10 degrees
Zone 6:-10 degrees to 0 degrees
Zone 7:0 degrees to 10 degrees
Zone 8:10 degrees to 20 degrees
Zone 9:20 degrees to 30 degrees
Zone 10:30 degrees to 40 degrees

Armed with this knowledge, you should be able to find a variety of plants that will thrive in your climate zone. And if you are in doubt, talk to your local garden center. The experts there should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Dean Novosat is an avid gardener and landscaper. He has transformed many boring yards into beautiful landscapes. He has several websites including http://www.the-garden-doctor.com, http://www.dr-landscape.com

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