Arthur Greenhouses

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Plant your plants in a lower Plant Hardiness Zone

In this article we briefly explain what you can do to grow plants with a higher plant hardiness zone-indication than the one that applies for your garden. In this way you can grow a wider selection en enjoy more plants in your garden. Plants with a lower zone-indication should have no growing problems in your garden, unless other factors in that micro-climate affect it. For this reason we also explain a little bit more about what factors can affect planth growth.

When you buy plants, shrubs or trees often the term 'Zone' can be found on the tag that accompanies your purchase. This refers to the Plant-Hardiness Zoning, which (only) takes the average minimum temperatures a region will encounter. It gives you an indication if this plant can withstand the climate in your area.

There are several factors beyond pure temperatures that go into whether a plant or flower will grow and thrive in a particular region. Other important things in addition to temperature affecting plant growth are:
- heat;
- rainfall;
- frost;
- sunlight & length of day;
- altitude;
- soil types;
- day time temperatures;
- micro-environments;
- other factors, such as nutrient levels and availibility.

Within every climate zone there are small weather environments unique to your area. Even in your own backyard there can be multiple 'micro-environments' depending on:
- shade or sun;
- soil drainage (wet all the time or dry);
- soil type and condition (pH level, hard, composted, or others);
- soil cover (mulch / snow);
- shelter from the wind by windbreaks, hedges or buildings; - hills or ridges (frost pockets);
- access to water or rain.

In addition to the natural 'micro-climates' you can artificially create these. Some examples to do this are:
- plant shade trees;
- plant windbreaks, hedges;
- putting in large rocks;
- adding a garden pond;
- use of covers like mulch;
- burlap shrubs and trees during wintertime;
- and many other gardening actions to alter your area;
- use of special plant nutrients or additives (affecting pH).