Gardening experience aside, an understanding of planting zones and how they affect your garden is key. What's so important about zones? It is your planting zone that indicates the proper plants for your location by determining which ones will prosper in your climate.

There are 11 zones in the United States. The US and southern Canada are divided up into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. The planting zones are demarcated by a temperature disparity of 10° Fahrenheit. The zones are set by how cold a particular region gets, so a higher number indicates a warmer region.

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. If you are a very good gardener, you can grow plants in zones they would not usually grow in, you just need to be able to maintain their preferred environment.

To help you select plants that will grow best in your area, most seed dealers and nurseries mark seeds and plants with planting zone information. Although the zones take into account the average temperature extremes, they do not account for the quality or quantity of sunlight and soil needed.

You can walk around your home and notice what time the sun shines on your patio or your garden causing warmer and cooler areas. 'Microclimates' is the name given to these areas and they are considered important since they provide you spots in the garden area where different plants belonging to different zones can grow. These microclimate places can also assist you in lengthening 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. When you decide to plant flowers, trees or shrubs, you should refer to the zone system in your area.