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By: Matt Adler
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is an essential tool for
all landscapers and gardeners, whether professionals or weekend
do-it-yourselfers. This simple and free tool will help ensure
you select only the correct plants, shrubs, or trees for your
region. If you do not follow this guide you risk the health
of your plant, and ultimately your time and money.
The Map was designed to show the average annual minimum temperature
range throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. There
are 11 different zones that describe the minimum temperature
that can be expected. The zones were divided based on a 10
degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum
temperature.
It is important to understand the zones in order to select
a plant that will survive the winter in your region. This
is called the plant's winter hardiness. The winter hardiness
of the plant is one of the most crucial factors for the survival
and environmental adaptation of the plant. A plant's hardiness
indicates the lowest temperature the plant can sustain and
still survive.
Most plants purchased at commercial stores will have their
hardiness level indicated on their tag. Determine the Hardiness
Zone of the area in which the plant will be located, and make
sure the plant's hardiness falls within the correct zone.
Zone 1 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature
below (-) 50 degree Fahrenheit. Example locations include
Fairbanks, Alaska and Northwest Territories in Canada.
Zone 2 contains areas that see an average minimum temperature
of (-) 50 to (-) 40 degrees. Example locations include Prudhoe
Bay, Alaska and Pinecreek , Minnesota.
Zone 3 ranges between (-) 40 and (-) 30 degrees. Examples
are International Falls, Minnesota and Sidney, Montana.
Zone 4 ranges between (-) 30 and (-) 20 degrees. Examples
are Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota and Northwood, Iowa.
Zone 5 ranges between (-) 20 and (-) 10 degrees. Examples
are Des Moines, Iowa and Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
Zone 6 ranges between (-) 10 and 0 degrees. Examples are
St. Louis, Missouri, and Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Zone 7 ranges between 0 and 10 degrees. Examples are South
Boston, Virginia and Little Rock Arkansas.
Zone 8 ranges between 10 and 20 degrees. Examples are Dallas,
Texas and Gainesville, Florida.
Zone 9 ranges between 20 and 30 degrees. Examples are Houston,
Texas and Fort Pierce, Florida.
Zone 10 ranges between 30 and 40 degrees. Examples are Victorville,
California and Miami, Florida.
Zone 11 is for annual minimum temperatures above 40 degrees.
Examples include Honolulu, Hawaii and Mazatlan, Mexico.
About The Author
Matt Adler is the creator of http://www.laffodils.com, a free
website for landscape and gardening advice.
For further description of the Plant Hardiness Zones, as
well as Maps, please check: http://www.laffodils.com/USDA_Plant_Hardiness_Zone_Map.html.
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