SolveYourProblem
Hedges Article Series
I
Want To Create
The Perfect Hedge
How
to Choose Hedges for Your Growth Zone
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.
