Choosing the Best Plants For Your Climate

If you want your flowerbeds to be the envy of the block, you need to choose the right plants for your climate. You see, when you choose plants that are well suited to your climate they are better able to take root and produce beautiful foliage and vibrant blooms. On the other hand if you fill your flowerbeds with plants that are not ideal for your climate, they may not grow or they will struggle and not look their best. Luckily, there are many great plants for every climate. Here are 5 helpful tips to help you make your picks.

Know Your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

The USDA has provided a very helpful tool for determining which plants grow best in which area. The entire United States is broken into 11 distinct zones which are determined by temperature. Take a look at this map and determine which zone you are. Often when purchasing plants or bulbs online or in a catalog information about the ideal hardiness zones will be included.

Look Around You

Another great tip for choosing plants that will grow well in your climate is to simply get out and take a walk. What plants do you see growing in your neighbor's yards? Seeing what people actually grow is a great way to find plants that will prosper in your climate.

Shop at Local Nurseries

Shopping local is a great way to find plants and flowers that will prosper in your neighborhood. As you browse your local nursery, don't be afraid to ask for advice. Ask questions like, "Will this grow well here?" and, "Which plants would you recommend?" to get great advice about the plants that will flourish in your yard. Don't be afraid to speak up and ask for advice. Often nursery owners and employees can be a treasure trove of quality gardening information specific to your local area. They are one of the best resources that you can find.

Follow Planting Instructions

Finding plants that will do well in your local climate is a little more difficult than just finding plants that can grow in your area. Each plant has ideal growing conditions which must be followed if you want to achieve optimal results. 

For example some plants need full sun to grow. Others do well in the shade. Some need lots of water and others just a little. In addition to finding plants that grow in your area, make sure that you also follow guidelines for planting and caring for these plants. These recommendations can change depending on your climate. For example, tender bulbs like dahlias and begonias must be stored over winter in a warmer indoor environment; however, in warmer climates they can remain planted outside.

See What Works for You

One of the biggest joys of gardening is experimentation. Not every plant that you choose will work out in your soil or climate. Try a variety of different plants and flowers. This will expose you to many options and you can determine which work best for you.

Using these tips and a little perseverance you can quickly find great plants that will prosper in your specific climate. Have fun and always remember that gardening is a journey that will take years to master. Isnare, Gabriel Meriwether

Growing Vegetables

There are few things as satisfying to gardeners than harvesting home grown vegetables and enjoying how great they taste when compared to many bought varieties. Growing vegetables at home is not difficult but there are a few basic guidelines to follow if you are to avoid some of the more common mistakes. Stick to tried and tested methods, select reliable, hardy varieties and look forward to serving up your own vegetables just a few weeks or months later.

The television gardening programmes sometimes make things look very simple and growing vegetables is one task that the TV experts seem to accomplish with relative ease. Certainly producing a good crop of potatoes or a healthy looking bed of lettuce is not beyond the reach of most home gardeners, but those TV experts are calling on many years of experience. It certainly pays to put a little thought into your vegetable growing project before you start putting plants into the ground.
Producing a good crop of garden vegetables starts with good planning and careful consideration of a number of key points. How much space do you have? What type of soil do you have? Which varieties do you hope to grow? Do you have the right tools for the job? Have you thought enough about protecting your plants from pests? All these points are worth thinking about but perhaps the most important consideration is whether you’ll be happy eating what you produce. There’s no point in growing several kilograms of perfect Brussels sprouts if no-one in your family likes them.

If you are new to growing vegetables it will pay to keeps things relatively risk free to start with. Choose vegetables that are not difficult to grow like potatoes, cabbages or courgettes and do your research into which varieties are best suited to your soil conditions. Also get as much help as you can before you start. Books are a great source of information but nothing beats speaking to someone who has done it all before. Think about joining a local gardening club or allotment group. People will be more than happy to pass on their experiences to you.
Next comes selecting and preparing the ground for your plot. Will you need plenty of sunshine or will your vegetables prefer shade? Also is the plot fairly accessible? Your plants will benefit from much more attention if they are within sight and easy reach of the house. For many gardeners, pests can be the undoing of much good work and will often dampen any enthusiasm before it becomes established. A population of slugs can easily demolish a row of lettuces overnight, so be prepared to put some protective measures in place before they strike.

Allotments are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, especially for people who live in city flats and apartments and don’t have the luxury of their own gardens. They also make a great starting point for vegetable growing even if you do have your own space at home. Allotments are full of friendly enthusiastic vegetable growers and are perhaps your best source of help and information in the early days. Even if you don’t intend to use an allotment space yourself, a quick walk around one that is local to you will give you lots of ideas about what you might try to grow and you’ll also be able to see the kind of plants that are thriving in your local conditions.

Having prepared your plot, thought about pest control and selected your varieties all that remains to be done is get some plants into the ground. Choose a reliable source of seed or purchase pre-sown plugs for a quicker start. Nothing beats standing back and admiring weed-free rows of newly planted vegetables that promise tasty and low-cost crops in the weeks ahead. Isnare, Marc Bartley