Planting Zones - What Is It?

Planting Zones

 

Executive Summary about Planting zones by Christine Beals

Planting zones in the United States, which are also known as Hardiness Zones, can be thought of as the rate of survival to the plant life in that particular region during cold periods, such as winter. After the USDA developed these zones, they were subsequently adopted elsewhere. They are categorized according to the mean of the lowest temperature recorded each winter, termed the "average annual minimum temperature".

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate zones; each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map factors in average winter minimum temperatures. Some other factors that may affect your plants growing patterns are humidity, an odd timed cold snap, the amount of frost on the ground, and soil moisture.

It may not bloom because the exterior conditions do not favor the plants optimal growing conditions. Luckily an alternative system for describing plant hardiness is also available, indicator plants. 

Why Plant Zones Are So Important

Executive Summary about Planting zones by Matt Marino

We've all gone out & purchased seeds to plant in our garden with varying results. People might wonder why this is; the answer has to do the plant's zone.

If you take a look at a Plant Zone Map you can see that certain plants can't grow in certain areas due to the temperature habits. For example, ivy can grow in Zones 5, 6, 7 & 8 but cannot grow properly in Zones 1, 2, 3 & 4 due to the extreme cold & cannot grow properly in Zones 9, 10 & 11 due to the mild lowest possible temperature.

The same applies to plants, trees, shrubs, etc. The next time you are purchasing a plant from a garden nursery make sure to ask what zones the plant can live in. If they tell you the Zones are from 5 to 8 planting in those zones will result in a garden you'd want to show off to all of your friends.