Raising Roses and your Climate Zone

by Dave Owen

To become a proud owner of a beautiful rose garden this year, one of the first things you should research what climate zone you are in. It may be nice to know that your yard will receive lots of sunshine. But, one of the key bits of information you need concerns the annual temperature variance in your zone. It is primarily how cold your plants will get that will determine the plants that you will be able to grow.

Get Familiar With Your Zone

If you ask any experienced gardener about a reliable source of information about climate zones, they will tell you that they use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This map is broken into 11 different climate zones and covers all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. Refering to this map, you will be able to determine what to plant your garden.

On the growing instructions that come with your plants, there will be information about the growing conditions the plants need to thrive. Regardless if you will be planting vegetables, flowers or landscaping plants to use as landscaping, you will need this information. It is a good idea (if you do not want to waste your money) to check USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map before you purchase any plants.

You will find that the map is very large and colorful. Its was put together as the result of a joint venture between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Arnold Arboretum (of Harvard University). The map is the result of combining years of weather data.

This data tracked the average low (coldest) temperatures in different regions of the United States. The different climate zones are depicted with a unique color. Zone 1 is the region with the lowest (coldest) temperature. In this region, the temperatures can be as low as -50 F (-45 C). On the other end of the chart is Zone 11. In this zone, the lowest temperature recorded during any part of the year has always above 40 F (4 C).

The climate zones bounderies are set up for the most part as you would expect. They are set up with the colder zones starting in the northern portion of North America and warming as they move to the south. Due to elevation changes, there are some variations in a few zones. But, this is to be expected.

To find your climate zone is very easy. To find it on the internet, navigate to the USDA website (http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html). On this map, you will be able to find your location and identify the zone. On this page, you can also select a map by state.

What is the importance of the zone to Rose Gardening

Roses are easier to grow than most people think. They require regular care and maintenance. Probably the number one thing roses need is the correct climate in which to grow. You can find varieties of roses that are very hardy, more so than others. Some are able to handle colder climate zones. That is if they have been properly prepared for the seasonal changes. If you are in one of the colder zones (lower numbered) you will need to find roses that are bred for your zone. If not, you may find that your plants do not look near as good as they did in the nursery.

Be kind to your plants, choose them for the zone.

About the Author
For more information about how to grow beautiful roses, visit Dave Owen's Rose Information.