Sometimes called “growing zones” or “gardening zones,” hardiness zones refer to a map developed by the USDA that separates the United States into regions based on the average low winter temperatures.

As you browse the garden and seed catalogs that are starting to arrive in your mailbox and read the details in the plant descriptions, you may wonder if a certain plant that really appeals to you will ...

WHAT HELPFUL, readily available tools can a Marin gardener use as a guide for choosing plants that will be successful in the garden? One basic tool is the USDA’s 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This ...