Plant hardiness zones is areas of the planet that have the same coldest average winter temperature within those area. Plant hardiness zones are important to consider because they allows individuals to determine which types of plant will be able to survive the winter months within they specific location. Because many plant are sensitive to cold temperatures, planting a plant within an area that is likely to experience temperatures that are too cold for that type of plant will result in the plant die within that area.
In order to determine an individual’s specific plant hardiness zone, they must use a plant hardiness zone map and enter their zip code into the map to determine their zone. Each zone on the map have a number that represents that zone. By understanding which zone you are within, you can begin to read the labels of the plant at the local garden center.
What Are Plant Hardiness Zones?
For instance, if the zone number for your area is 6, and the plant label state that the plant grows best within zones 5-9, then the plant will survive within your area. However, if you attempt to plant a plant that is only suited to zone 9 within your zone 6, the plant will likely die each winter due to the colder temperature. It is also important to understand that your yard may contain microclimate.
Microclimates are small areas within your yard that have different temperature than the rest of the yard. These microclimates can be created by various factor, such as the fact that a south-facing brick wall will experience higher temperatures than other areas of the yard. Similarly, a low spot within the yard may be colder than other area of the yard.
Finally, you can add mulch to the yard to protect the roots of the plant from the winter temperatures. Perennials are plants that grow back every year. Perennials are often more reliable within specific zone than annuals, as gardeners often select the perennials to be able to survive within specific zones.
For instance, lavender is a perennial that can survive within certain zone, and lavender is also a plant that is often resistant to deer. Therefore, individuals should select perennials that are often able to survive within the specific plant hardiness zone where that perennial will be grew. In addition to understanding the plant hardiness zone in which you reside, it is also important for gardening enthusiast to understand the concept of “timing” within the garden.
Timing is the concept of when to plant the seeds for your plant. In areas that are within cold plant hardiness zones, the planting season is shorter due to the long winter months. In areas that are within warm plant hardiness zones, the planting season is longer due to the short winter month.
In order to determine when to plant seeds for vegetables, an enthusiast in the garden can use a soil thermometer to determine if the soil has reached the specific temperature that is required to plant those vegetable. If the soil is too cold, the vegetables will not be able to grow proper. Finally, it is also important to understand that plant hardiness zones can change over time.
Data regarding the planets climate indicate that many area of the planet are becoming warmer over time, and thus their plant hardiness zones are shifting towards warmer number on the plant hardiness zone chart. Another factor to consider is elevation. Areas that are at higher elevation within a region will be colder than areas at lower elevations.
Therefore, if an individual lives at a high elevation, they may experience winter temperatures that are more colder than those indicated on the plant hardiness zone chart for the area. By using the information available regarding plant hardiness zones, individuals can make certain that the plants that they choose to grow within their yard will be capable of survive the winter months within their area. By following the information from the plant hardiness zones for their region, individuals will ensure that their selected plant can survive winter and enjoy the growing season throughout the year.