GARDENING FACT SHEET:
Click to View Printable PDF file: “What is My Plant Hardiness Zone”
Zone maps were created so gardeners had a way to compare their garden climate with the climate where a plant is known to grow. If you want a perennial, shrub, or tree, to survive and flourish, the plant must tolerate the year-round conditions in your area.
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 growing zones; each zone 10 degrees F warmer (or colder) than the adjacent zone. These zones are further subdivided into a 5 degree F zone with an (a) or (b) designation.
The Tri-Lakes Area: Zone 5b
The Tri-Lakes area is assigned Zone 5b, with an average annual minimum temperature of -15 to -10F. The lower the number, the colder the average minimum temperature.
Zone Maps Don’t Account for Microclimates
Zone maps are not absolute – several factors, such as elevation, soil, humidity, shade, sun, wind, and exposure, can affect your specific gardening zone, or even different spots within your gardening zone. These are called microclimates – a small but distinctly different climate within the larger climate.
For example, a sunny, southern, exposure that is protected from the wind, will be significantly warmer for most of the year than the rest of the garden. This area may be able to sustain plants that are one zone higher because of the microclimate.
Likewise, an area on the north side of the house, which receives no direct sun in the winter, may be one zone lower. It is important to understand what your specific microclimates are, if any, and plant accordingly.
Click to View Printable PDF file: “What is My Plant Hardiness Zone”
