What Is My Hardiness Zone? Why is it Important?

Proper knowledge of the hardiness zone where your garden is located will eliminate failure and frustration for gardeners when planting bulbs and seeds. It is important that you familiarize yourself on what zone your garden will be located, especially first time gardeners, in order to get the best results. 

Bulbs planted when it is still too warm often sprout prior to a hard frost, and freeze during winter. Within colder regions, such as zones 1 through 4, or a mountainous region, additional mulch to protect against severe freezing temperatures (20 degrees below zero) is recommended; alternatively, heavy mulching will need to be removed in spring to ensure the flower can reach the sunlight and bloom to grow to its full potential. Use the map below to determine your hardiness zone.

The US Department of Agriculture and the US National Arboretum have prepared a map representing winter hardiness for certain types of plant material. Most fall planting bulbs are considered hardy and will survive the most severe winters including, tulips, daffodils, narcissus, hyacinths, crocus, scilla, fritillaria, iris, snowdrops, muscari, eranthus, and chinodoxa. However, if you do live in zones 1 through 4, or if you live in the mountains, additional mulch to protect against severe freezing temperatures (20 degrees below zero) is recommended.