Whenever you purchase a new perennial plant, shrub, tree, or even seeds, you've probably noticed information about hardiness zones on the plant tag or description. But what does it mean? "Plant ...

Before wasting time, money and effort in the garden, you need to take a close look the USDA Planting Zones. Here is how to understand it. You don’t want to start planting your garden without knowing ...

Tom Oder is a writer, editor, and communication expert who specializes in sustainability and the environment with a sweet spot for urban agriculture. The official news that 2012 was the hottest year ...

Recent weather has lot of gardeners gun-shy on what plants are hardy and what plants aren't. With so many choices, knowing what to choose can be a daunting task. While we do worry about plants that ...

Unless you've got a heated greenhouse, you won't be able to grow citrus in Michigan or jasmine in New York for the simple fact that the winters are too cold. While the range limits of some plants are ...

Question: I’m confused about climate zones. Sunset garden books give the Willamette Valley a different number than USDA gives. Please explain. Answer: Good question. This is the time of year — garden ...

Dallas-area gardeners have known for years the region is warmer than its official status as USDA Zone 7. The government acknowledged the fact on Jan. 25 with the release of its updated Plant Hardiness ...

Question: My husband bought a few plants at a nursery recently. There was a tag describing the USDA Climate Zone. I live in Sonoma 9a, but I saw other zones mentioned such as 9b and 10. There was also ...