hedges hedge bushes bush


Are You in the Zone? How to Choose Hedges for your Neck of the Woods


Articles on Hedges  |  Topics: hedges, hedge, bushes, bush


by Quinn David

Are You in the Zone? How to Choose Hedges for your Neck of the Woods

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


 Quote of the Day
Through winter-time we call on spring,
And through the spring on summer call,
And when abounding hedges ring
Declare that winter’s best of all;
And after that there’s nothing good
Because the spring-time has not come....
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)



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:

Www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

www.arborday.org/treeinfo/zonelookup.cfm

The National Arbor Day Association

www.thegardenhelper.com/hardiness.htm

Gardening and Plant Hardiness Zones for the United States

www.ahs.org/publications/heat_zone_map.htm

Publications - American Horticultural Society - Heat Zone Map

www.treehelp.com/tools/hardiness-zones.asp

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.


We strive to provide only the finest articles on our website. If there is a specific hedges-related topic that you do not see but would like us to cover, please contact us here.

Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Are You in the Zone? How to Choose Hedges for your Neck of the Woods" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FlowersPlantsGardening.com.


Thinking outside the Box – Box Hedge, That Is
By Issac Russell
If you love the idea of having a hedge on your property, but have very little sun, you may want to consider using a box hedge, also called a boxwood hedge. Boxwood hedges are defined as being evergreen upright shrubs....

Bugged Out! How to Diagnose what's Eating y our Lawn
By Shamar Holman
Insects can cause a lot of problems in a lawn. They can eat the grass blades, attack the roots, or just be a nuisance....

A Budding Chef? Your Guide to Planting the Right Herbs for the Kitchen
By Gerardo Jimenez
A Budding Chef? Your Guide to Planting the Right Herbs for the Kitchen Whether your home is large, small, or you live in an apartment – an herbal garden can add not only variety and spice to your cooking but also a bit of decoration to your home. Herb gardens can be grown both indoors and out....

Lawn Cutting is an Art Form - How to Cut your Lawn Properly
By Quintina Gardner
I bet you don't think of mowing your yard as an art form. A chore has to be done if you have any lawn at all....

In The Zone – Where You Live Can Impact How You Plant
By Yehudi Underwood
You have found the most beautiful plants and you know they will add tranquility and peace to your garden and you cannot wait to bring them home and begin planting them. Whether you are an avid gardener or just beginning it is important to know which zone you live in....

Popular and Easy Plants to Use for your Water Garden
By Frederick Quinn
Popular and Easy Plants to Use for your Water Garden   There are complete kits that you can purchase that have all the things you need to get started on your pond or you can design your own from scratch. There are a few important facts to consider before you start digging your pond....

Read more articles about hedges...

Google

Flowers Articles   |   Plants Articles   |   Gardening Articles   |   Terms   |   Privacy   |   Contact
Copyright © 2010 Flowers, Plants Tips.  All rights reserved.