Are You in the Zone? How to Choose Hedges for your Neck of the Woods
It is with your interests in mind that we bring this article. We hope that you find some use for this information.
When you are deciding what plants to choose for your hedge, you need to be sure the plants you choose will grow well in your planting zone. What is a planting zone?
The country is divided into different growth zones to allow you to choose the flowers, plants, and vegetables, which will grow best in your neighborhood. Zones provide timelines for planting because different areas of the country warm up at different times.
The United States has eleven gardening zones. They range from cold being number one to eleven, which includes the most Southern area of the States. Here is a recap of those zones. All temperatures quoted are the lowest temperatures reached in that area.
Zone 1 has a temperature that drops to 50 degrees below zero; this will include the Northern part of Alaska and of course upper Canada.
Zone 2 is slightly south of Zone 1 and will include the lower parts of Alaska and the Northern portion of Minnesota. The lowest temperature can get to 40 to 50 below Fahrenheit in this zone.
Zone 3 includes cities such as International Falls, Minnesota and Sydney, Montana. The average lowest temperature is 30 to 40 degrees below.
Zone 4 has an average lowest temperature of 20 to 30 degrees below and is found in the upper portions of Minnesota, Nebraska, and Montana.
Zone 5 with the average lowest temperature of 10 to 20 degrees below zero includes the states of Iowa, upper portions of Illinois and Missouri.
Zone 6 includes the lower portions of Illinois and the Midwest states going all the way down to Branson Missouri and Nashville Tennessee. Temperature in this area generally do not drop to more than 10 below zero and then only rarely and for short periods.
Zone 7 takes a swing through Georgia, Arkansas, and Virginia. Their average low temperature is 0 to 10 degrees.
Zone 8 includes parts of Texas to the upper portions of Florida. Temperatures in each zone increase ten degrees each time you go to a higher zone level.
Zone 9 includes the lower portions of Texas and Florida with temperatures rarely getting below 20 degrees.
Zone 10 includes the lowest portion of Florida as well as the southern part of California.
Zone 11 would encompass the state of Hawaii.
Some shrubs are good for nearly all zones and you’ll find them listed below. I will give these to you in their commonly known names, not their botanical names. The list below is just a few of the shrubs and plants. Many more can be found on the Internet or a store that specializes in plants can be very helpful in making your choice.
- Canert Juniper
- Amur Maple
- Siberian peashrub
- Winged Euonymus
- Japanese barberry
- Gray-stem Dogwood
- Northern sun
- Privets (except for zone 4)
- Ninebark
- Alpine currant
- Arrow wood viburnum
- Dwarf ninebark
- Potentilla
- Blue leaf arctic willow
- Anthony Waterer
- Dwarf viburnum
As you can see, you have a large variety of shrubs and hedge plants that will grow in any area. For information that is more precise, contact your local extension office. They are always glad to answer questions. They can tell you what zone you are in and offer advice on what type of plant you can use in your climate zone.
You will also find very good information on the Internet. A few good sites that are available online are:
National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
The National Arbor Day Association
Gardening and Plant Hardiness Zones for the United States
Publications - American Horticultural Society - Heat Zone Map
TreeHelp.com: Tools: Hardiness Zones
Try these websites for much more information on not only the climate zone you live in but will also give you much more detailed information on what type of plants are good for your zone. They also will give you a list of hardier plants, those that are more likely to survive in the climate zone you are in.
Consumer Reports – Gardening : http://www.reports24.com