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Gardening and Plant Zones for the USA - Plant Hardiness Map or Growing Zones and Climate Zones
 

US Gardening Zones and Planting Zones are based on the concept of plant hardiness. In the US plant hardiness zones are divided by 10 degrees of difference in the yearly average minimum temperature. So we have a set of recommended planting zones for plants. These zones are usually marked on plant labels or catalogues and can save a lot of trouble when selecting plants for the garden.

Gardening Zones or Planting Zones (USA Plant Hardiness Zones) in the US can be located on a map by zip code using the Arbor Day Foundation Zone Finder. Gardening zone maps can also be found at The National Arboretum Web Site.

So should we only buy plants recommended for our own planting zone? You need to think locally, have you a specific micro climate in your area that is warmer or colder, are you prepared to grow plants in a greenhouse or over winter them indoors? Many gardeners go to great lengths to grow specific plants, just because they want to. Consider what is practical ( use the planting zones as a guide) and what you want to do ( go ahead and plant it anyway )

Plant Hardiness Zones, Growing Zones, or Climate Zones explained.
  • Plant hardiness zones were developed to provide a simple guide to what plant will grow where.
  • Plant hardiness zones are based on temperature. In the USA Zones are rated from 1-11 with Zone 1 being the coldest and Zone 11 being the warmest.
  • Zones are able to tell you what plant will live where.
  • Its all about the temperature maximum and minimum that a plant can survive in.
  • Zones are a great indication, however, local variations, special positions and even gardening determination can allow you to 'cheat the zone'.

So how can you look up your gardening zone? Try the Arbor Day Foundation Zone Finder.



WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN AND WHEN TO DO IT ?
It is very difficult to give a month by month what to do list with accuracy across the USA, given different climate zones, seasonal variation and individual locations. Take our guide as 'a guide' and adapt it to your own gardening experience.
  • SUMMER
    Summer is a time to enjoy the garden, and make a list of what you would like to change, however a few important tasks need to be completed.
    more summer gardening tasks
  • FALL
    Time to start cleaning up, the fallen leaves, spent perennials.
    more fall gardening tasks
  • WINTER
    Complete pruning, take a look at the list that you prepared in summer. Check out the catalogues online and order bulbs and perennials for next season.
    more winter gardening tasks
  • SPRING
    Time to plant early in spring, fertilize and a quick clean up after winter.
    more spring gardening tasks


 


Plant Hardiness Zones around the world

Plant Hardines and Gardenong Zones for Australia http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/research/hort.research/zones.html


US Gardening Zones and Planting Zones
ALABAMA AL, ALASKA AK, AMERICAN SAMOA A,S ARIZONA AZ, ARKANSAS AR, CALIFORNIA CA, COLORADO CO, CONNECTICUT CT, DELAWARE DE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DC, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA FM, FLORIDA FL, GEORGIA GA, GUAM GU, HAWAII HI, IDAHO ID, ILLINOIS IL, INDIANA IN, IOWA IA, KANSAS KS, KENTUCKY KY, LOUISIANA LA, MAINE ME, MARSHALL ISLANDS MH, MARYLAND MD, MASSACHUSETTS MA, MICHIGAN MI, MINNESOTA MN, MISSISSIPPI MS, MISSOURI MO, MONTANA MT, NEBRASKA NE, NEVADA NV, NEW HAMPSHIRE NH, NEW JERSEY NJ, NEW MEXICO NM, NEW YORK NY, NORTH CAROLINA NC, NORTH DAKOTA ND, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS MP, OHIO OH, OKLAHOMA OK, OREGON OR, PALAU PW, PENNSYLVANIA PA, PUERTO RICO P,R RHODE ISLAND RI, SOUTH CAROLINA SC, SOUTH DAKOTA SD, TENNESSEE TN, TEXAS TX, UTAH UT, VERMONT VT, VIRGIN ISLANDS VI, VIRGINIA VA, WASHINGTON WA, WEST VIRGINIA WV, WISCONSIN W, WYOMING WY.