Getting outside and starting a garden is something you might look forward to every year. It’s fun to plant seeds and watch them grow into beautiful flowers or tasty vegetables, but sometimes they don’t always thrive. As it turns out, it might have something to do with where you live.
Check out how your planting zone should impact your garden planning and why it’s so important to consider.
What Is a Plant Hardiness Zone?
Sunshine and water availability are the first factors gardeners consider. You need to place your garden where it will get the right amount of sunshine and where the soil will retain water well.
However, that’s not all plants require. They also need to withstand your local environment.
Hardiness is the term for how well plants survive. They’ll have a low level of hardiness if they’re susceptible to changes in temperature or local pests. Your hardiness zone will determine how tough your plants must be to flourish in your garden.
What Are the Different Hardiness Zones?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) divides the country into 11 sections based on the annual extreme lowest temperatures in each region. Check where you live to see if your dream garden can survive the expected lowest temperatures in the next year.
You’ll want plants like perennials to come back every year, but they won’t if winter temperatures freeze them beyond repair. Flowers like peonies and foxgloves will thrive if planted in Indiana, but they won’t grow in a place like Alaska. It all depends on where you live and what annual weather your city experiences.
How Your Planting Zone Impacts Your Garden
So how will your planting zone impact your garden planning? There are a few specific steps you can take to have your best gardening experience yet. Check out these tips, and you’ll find that your next round of planting is easier than ever.
Research Your Plants
Every plant species needs slightly different types of care. You’ll have to consider the yearly maintenance of anything you want to plant before bringing something home. Your planting zone may endure high temperatures, which requires more watering in July when the hot weather dries out the soil.
Other planting zones maintain average annual temperatures. It makes it easier to grow plants, but it also helps pests stick around even during the winter. Researching your plants and keeping your planting zone in mind will help you determine things like watering routines, hardiness requirements, and even methods for pest control.
Check the Varieties
You may dream of tending a garden full of dahlias. They’re beautiful flowers and may do well in your hardiness zone, but not if you get the wrong variety. A phantom dahlia can grow in hot weather, but the henriette dahlia can’t stand full sunshine in the summer. Double-check any plant you might buy so you don’t accidentally miss any critical growth factors.
Visit Local Garden Shops
If you’re new to gardening and feel overwhelmed by planting zones, don’t worry. You can always visit local garden shops and talk with a few experts.
Staff members and shop owners will have experience growing plants in your region, so they can directly guide you to the best options for your garden. They’ll even reveal helpful gardening tips that most people don’t know, like how to kill weeds with a sheet of plastic every few weeks.
Plan Your Dream Garden Today
Your planting zone should impact your gardening because it influences which plants stand a good chance of growing. You’ll learn what kind of temperature fluctuations you can expect and align your garden design accordingly. Figuring out what will survive before planting anything makes all the difference in your annual garden experience.
Bio:
Jane is an environmental writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers sustainability and eco-friendly living.