When planting a new garden in your backyard, it’s important to take the time to learn a bit about U.S. garden climate zones as these will greatly impact your plant choice. Choosing the right plants is essential to a successful garden. Even if you have the greenest thumb in the neighborhood, you may run into problems if you choose plants that are not right for your garden climate zone.
The good news is that there are many tools available to make it easier for you to find out your climate zone and which plants will be the best choice for your area. For example, the “Plant Hardiness Zone Map” is an excellent tool. This map was designed in the 60s and it explains how well certain plants will grow in specific climatic conditions. The zones are determined by using the average minimum temperature. If the plant can survive the coldest temperature for your area, then it’s a good selection for your location.
North America has 11 gardening zones with the lowest and warmest areas found outside of the United States. Zones 2 through 10 are found in the U.S and they are color coated. Locate your area on the map and then match the color for that area to the chart to learn which plants will be best choice for your area.
As a rule, you should choose the lowest temperature plants for your location and this will help to ensure they grow properly. The average amount of rainfall along with the heat and humidity will also play a role in how well your backyard plants will thrive but using this tool will help you make a wise choice.
