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Regardless of your previous experience with gardening, a basic understanding of planting zones (particularly your own) is vital. Why is this so important? The plants you should be putting in depend upon the climate in your planting zone.

The total number of zones in the United States is 11. The US and southern Canada are divided up into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Planting zones are usually separated by a difference of approximately 10° Fahrenheit. Zones are based on how cold a region gets; warmer areas have higher zone numbers than colder ones.

While the planting zones are a good indicator of which plants will and will not thrive in your area, they are not strict restrictions of what you can and cannot grow. With a little work, you can grow plants in one planting zone that are meant to grow in a different zone.

Seed dealers and nurseries know which plants grow best in each climate zone so use the zone information marked on the seeds and plants to help you choose. Planting zones give a good idea as to the temperatures for your area, but you still need to account for the amount of sunlight and type of soil your potential plant will require.

You can walk around your home and notice what time the sun shines on your patio or your garden causing warmer and cooler areas. These areas, which are known as microclimates are important because you get the spots around your house, where you can grow a variety of plants that are probably, foreign to your zone. Additionally, these microclimate areas can extend your planting time.

Gardening is a difficult endeavor, but if you are aware of your planting zones it will be easier to choose plants that will thrive. In order to make sure your flowers and shrubs survive, you should refer to the zone system in your area.

For more on planting zones and learning how to create a beautiful backyard garden, visit http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com