www.alliancecom.net 7 Do You KnowYour Planting Zone? Many plants grow best in certain climates, and the USDA has developed the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map that shows the various planting zones throughout the U.S. Descriptions of plants and seeds often reference planting zones, so when you’re researching anything having to do with gardening, it’s important to know which planting zone is yours. When a plant is referred to as hardy to a particular zone, it means it can survive in the lowest winter temperatures of that zone. Note that the zones don’t fit into neat categories such as states. They’re smaller, more specific regions with unique climate conditions. To discover which zone you’re in, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/pages/view-maps. There you can find and download state, regional, and national Plant Hardiness Zone Maps at various resolutions. You can also enter your address and use the color-coded legend to identify your zone. Sustainable gardening is gaining momentum as people realize their gardens can have a positive impact on the environment. For example, certain techniques invite and protect wildlife on your property. Sustainable gardening can also save you both time and money. Sustainable Gardens Contribute to the Health of the Planet Mother Earth News motherearthnews.com/ organic-gardening In addition to its magazine, Mother Earth News also offers a natural living website with many resources for helping people live in healthy, sustainable ways. Its Organic Gardening section provides dozens of articles about things like gardening techniques, tools, and pest control. Treehugger treehugger.com/garden-4846054 Treehugger is a sustainability site that offers advice for green living. Its Garden section provides eco-friendly methods for planting and maintaining your garden, including composting, natural pest and weed control, and the sustainable practice of growing food at home. HGTV hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/ planting-and-maintenance/10-waysto-green-your-garden-for-earth-day One of the preeminent gardening resources, HGTV, has put together this article on ways to green your garden. Ideas range from planting trees to using organic seeds to using smart watering strategies to reducing your reliance on chemicals. Homes & Gardens homesandgardens.com/gardens/create-an-eco-friendly-garden-220348 In this article, Homes & Gardens offers 18 ways to create an eco-friendly garden. By doing things like choosing native plants, using natural pest control, collecting rainwater, and planting more trees, you’ll make your yard even greener. Joe Gardener joegardener.com PBS fans might recognize Joe Lamp’l from the show Growing a Greener World. His gardening resources include videos, podcasts, and articles, and his website is helpfully divided into sections about how to prepare, plant, grow, and care. QUICK TIP: For information about a specific plant, try the search tool at davesgarden.com/guides/pf.
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