If you are new to gardening, you may be confused by some of
the terminology associated with plants. For instance, a USDA
zone explanation may be necessary. This is a useful system for determining
what plants will survive and grow in certain areas of North America. When you
understand how these hardiness zones work, you will be able to better plan your
garden.
What Do Hardiness Zones Mean?
The USDA plant hardiness map is created and updated every few years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It divides North America into eleven zones by minimum average annual temperatures. The lower the number is, the lower the temperatures in that zone.
Each zone represents ten degrees of temperature difference. Each zone is also divided into “a” and “b” segments. These represent five degrees of temperature difference. For example, zone 4 represents minimum temperatures between -30 to -20 degrees F. (-34 to -29 C.). The a and b subdivisions represent -30 to -25 degrees F. (-34 to -32 C.) and -25 to -20 degrees F. (-32 to -29 C.).
Hardiness refers to how well a plant will survive cold temperatures. Where the USDA zones fall short; however, is that they don’t account for other factors. These include freeze dates, freeze-thaw cycles, the effects of snow cover, precipitation, and elevation.
How to Use Hardiness Zone Information
Understanding hardiness zones means you can pick plants for
your garden that will be most likely to survive your local winters. The zones
are not important for annuals
since these are plants you would only expect to survive the summer months, or
one season. For perennials, trees, and shrubs though, be sure to check the USDA
zones before you put them in your garden.
The limitations of the USDA zones are most felt in the
western U.S. If you live in this area, you may want to use the Sunset climate
zones. This system uses more than just the minimum temperatures to determine
which plants grow best where. They also use the length of the growing season,
summer temperatures, wind, humidity, and rainfall.
No zoning system is perfect and even within your own garden
you may have important microclimates
that impact how plants grow. Use the USDA or Sunset zones as a guide and always
check them to give you the best chance of success in your garden.
If you are new to gardening, you may be confused by some of
the terminology associated with plants. For instance, a USDA
zone explanation may be necessary. This is a useful system for determining
what plants will survive and grow in certain areas of North America. When you
understand how these hardiness zones work, you will be able to better plan your
garden.
What Do Hardiness Zones Mean?
The USDA plant hardiness map is created and updated every few years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It divides North America into eleven zones by minimum average annual temperatures. The lower the number is, the lower the temperatures in that zone.
Each zone represents ten degrees of temperature difference. Each zone is also divided into “a” and “b” segments. These represent five degrees of temperature difference. For example, zone 4 represents minimum temperatures between -30 to -20 degrees F. (-34 to -29 C.). The a and b subdivisions represent -30 to -25 degrees F. (-34 to -32 C.) and -25 to -20 degrees F. (-32 to -29 C.).
Hardiness refers to how well a plant will survive cold temperatures. Where the USDA zones fall short; however, is that they don’t account for other factors. These include freeze dates, freeze-thaw cycles, the effects of snow cover, precipitation, and elevation.
How to Use Hardiness Zone Information
Understanding hardiness zones means you can pick plants for
your garden that will be most likely to survive your local winters. The zones
are not important for annuals
since these are plants you would only expect to survive the summer months, or
one season. For perennials, trees, and shrubs though, be sure to check the USDA
zones before you put them in your garden.
The limitations of the USDA zones are most felt in the
western U.S. If you live in this area, you may want to use the Sunset climate
zones. This system uses more than just the minimum temperatures to determine
which plants grow best where. They also use the length of the growing season,
summer temperatures, wind, humidity, and rainfall.
No zoning system is perfect and even within your own garden
you may have important microclimates
that impact how plants grow. Use the USDA or Sunset zones as a guide and always
check them to give you the best chance of success in your garden.