When you begin to think about how to choose plants that will thrive in your area, the first place you want to start is by looking at The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
This map was devised over 70 years ago and have been updated to tell us what the lowest average temperature is for any given area in the United States is in increments of 10 degrees. These zones range from 1 to zone 11 with 1 being the coldest (think Fairbanks, Alaska) and 11 being the warmest (think Honolulu, Hawaii!)
For instance, we live in the Mid-South which is in zone 6a. Some areas of the Mid-South are Zone 6b or even Zone 7 depending on what part of our area you are in. Our temperature lows range from -5 degrees F to 0 degrees F which is actually similar to England.
With that in mind, you would think that we could have the same gorgeous English cottage gardens that they have. But no! It isn’t so. And why not you might ask?
Well, it’s a little thing we, not so lovingly, call heat and humidity. On some summer afternoons, we can reach temperatures around 100 degrees F with almost 100% humidity. And yes, it is as bad as it sounds. We hate it and so do most of the flowers.
The main problem is that humidity is a perfect breeding ground for fungus and bacteria and by the end of the summer many plants have met their match and beg for mercy. That’s why we often pull up some of our annuals in August although they “officially” have about another month or two for growing. Pruning plants and spacing them so that they have plenty of air flow is key to helping plants survive in humidity.
Another garden tip for choosing plants that will thrive in your area is to buy hybrid plants. These plants have been hybridized to resist disease and pest. Reputable local nurseries usually carry a large selection of these hybrid cultivars. You may also buy them online from mail order nurseries.
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