The climate of the general area is indicated by the USDA plant hardiness zone. This is why -- much to the dismay of many a new gardener -- the plants in one area of a landscape may be killed by the very same frost that other plants (in other areas of the yard) survive just fine. Accept If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. Planting plants, vegetables and flowers that are appropriate for your US growing zone will make sure that your garden is happy and healthy year after year. Frost damage can be a very localized phenomenon. Basically, the lower a zone number is, the colder that area’s weather is. Let's say you are gardening in zone 5, and the plant that you would like to grow is supposedly hardy only to zone 6. For example, a sunny nook in a yard that is sheltered from harsh winds and frosts is a microclimate: The temperature there will sometimes remain higher than it does elsewhere in your yard. Planting Zone 6 is known as a mild planting zone with a variety of options for gardening from flowers to fruit to veggies and more. To use the website as intended please  If you face this challenge, in addition to applying soil amendments, you may wish to consider selecting plants that tolerate clayey soil. Like the Northeast, the Northwest assumes a somewhat expanded meaning when used in connection with USDA growing zones. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. The range of minimum average temperatures for zone 6 is between -10°F and 0°F or -23.3°C and -17.8°C. For example, if a piece of land sits down in a low spot (at the foot of hills), cold air may settle there. The North-Central region is dominated by cold-weather growing zones (3 to 5), with only the extreme southern fourth of it offering a more hospitable clime (zones 6 to 7). Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Flowering Crabapples with Persistent Fruit. The flowers are easy to… Hardiness Zone 6: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -10°F To 0°F Or -23.3°C To -17.8°C. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Hardiness zones, commonly called growing zones or planting zones, are intended to be taken as advice, not gospel. Join now and start creating your dream garden! Rather, it extends south to Virginia and West to Michigan. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. That being said, this article focuses on gardening in USDA zone 6. What Are Some Good Xeriscape Plants for Shade? Keep reading to learn more. USDA Growing zone map for the North West U.S. USDA North-Central U.S. Planting zones are areas you can find on a growing zone map that show exactly which plants are best suited to thrive in your given area, or zone. This is experimental and isn't always successful, but if you play your cards right, you may be able to expand on the standard regional choices in plant selection. When shopping for new plants for your garden landscape, the terms “plant hardiness zones,” “growing zones” and “planting zones” may at first seem a bit confusing. Not every plant native to the United States is native to a particular zone. Hardiness Zone 2: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -50°F To -40°F Or -45.6°C To -40°C, Hardiness Zone 3: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -40°F To -30°F Or -40°C To -34.4°C, Hardiness Zone 4: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -30°F To -20°F Or -34.4°C To -28.9°C, Hardiness Zone 5: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -20°F To -10°F Or -28.9°C To -23.3°C, Hardiness Zone 6: Lowest Average Temperatures Of -10°F To 0°F Or -23.3°C To -17.8°C, Hardiness Zone 7: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 0°F To 10°F Or -17.8°C To -12.2°C, Hardiness Zone 8: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 10°F To 20°F Or -12.2°C To -6.7°C, Hardiness Zone 9: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 20°F To 30°F Or -6.7°C To -1.1°C, Hardiness Zone 10: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 30°F To 40°F Or -1.1°C To 4.4°C, Hardiness Zone 11: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 40°F To 50°F Or 4.4°C To 10°C, Hardiness Zone 12: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 50°F And 60°F Or +10°C And +15.6°C, Hardiness Zone 13: Lowest Average Temperatures Of 60°F And 70°F Or +15.6°C And +21.1°C. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 13 zones.