Florida Growing Zones For Landscaping
Florida has a lot going for it. With an average temperature of 77 degrees and the sun constantly out and shining, you would think that it would be the perfect place to grow a garden. In reality, things can get tricky in here Florida when it comes to choosing plants and landscaping because of what are known as growing zones.
A growing zone is a region where there are enough hours of sunlight each day for plants to thrive (a minimum of 5 hours is needed). If your area does not have enough hours of sunlight per day, then your plants will struggle when trying to bloom flowers or bear fruit. In this article, we are going to talk about what a growing zone is, why it is important to know, and where to find out exactly what your growing zone is best for.
If you live in Florida or are planning on moving to the Sunshine State, knowing your growing zone is important.
A growing zone is a range of temperatures that defines what plants can grow at certain locations. It is based on average annual minimum temperatures. Understanding your growing zone allows you to make informed decisions about what types of flowers, shrubs, and trees will thrive in your yard. For instance: if you live in Zone 8b and want to install a ficus tree, but it only grows well in Zone 9b, then that might not be a good choice for your home landscape design, and you will need to find an alternative!
It’s also helpful to know about the microclimates of the areas in which you want to garden.
You can also use microclimates to your advantage. Microclimates define the climate of a small geographic area—for example, a garden bed or section of your yard—and provide you with more information about what plants will thrive where you are putting them. Weather stations are located throughout Florida, and many local governments make their data available online. To find microclimate information for your specific location, hop online and do a bit of research to get yourself prepared.
Once you have all of this information from the first three steps above, it is time to start planning what kind of landscape design would work best for your property and budget!
Only plant what grows best in your Florida Growing Zones
If you are not sure if a plant will thrive in your Florida growing zones, you can always contact us or search online for information about it. It’s better to check than to risk wasting money on plants that won’t survive the winter or dry seasons. Professionals will be able to give you a solid idea of what plants will work well together and in your growing zone. The USDA has a database with the growing zones of all types of plants, so use this resource when deciding which ones are right for you and your climate zone.
In all honesty, the best way to find out what grows best in Fort Myers is by taking the time and doing some research. A good place to start is by visiting your local nursery or garden center. These employees usually can tell you what grows well where you are and show you some examples of plants that will thrive in your soil and climate conditions.
Once you have done this research, make sure that what you choose fits into your budget and your Florida Growing Zones so that you do not overspend on plants or materials they need! Hopefully, this has given you some good information to work with and you will be able to create the perfect garden! Come back to see us in the future!