Why
a map?
Understanding climate zones and maps are critical for selecting permanent
lanscaping plants. If you want shrubs, perennial, or trees to survive and
grow year after year, the plant must tolerate year-round conditions in your
area: the lowest and highest temperatures, the amount of sun or shade,
distribution of rainfall and soil conditions. A
variety
of maps, including some new ones, can help you find the information you
need to succeed.
Basic
Plant Requirements
Everyone
who is interested in growing, planting, landscaping and horticulture ask
the same question first. "What plants will flourish and be most successful
with my plans and ideas"? The most important thing to remember is that all
plants must be placed in an environment that meet their basic requirements.
Some of those requirements are;
Day Length- Day length is usually the most critical factor in regulating
vegetative growth, flower initiation and development. Plants survive only
when the day length promotes their growth and prepares them for the seasonal
changes.
Radiation- Most plants respond to radiation in the 270- to 3000-nm
region. Cloudy, rainy days coupled with the shade provided by nearby plants
and structures can significantly reduce the amount of radiation available.
Plants survive only where the amount is within a specific range.
Temperature- Plants grow best within an optimum range of temperatures;
and the range may be wide for some species and narrow for others. Plants
survive only where temperatures allow them to metabolize.
Frost- Plants differ in the ability to survive frost, their responses
vary from immediate death to sustained performance. The previous environmental
and cultural conditions of plants can often shift, but not permanently alter
their tolerance to freezing. Plants survive only when they are adapted to
subfreezing weather.
Heat- The thermal cuttoff temperature varies widely from species to
species. By tradition we group plants into sun, partial sun and shade types
and plant them according to their light and heat tolerances.
Rainfall- Gardeners need to know how much water a landscape plant
requires in determining its usability in low maintenance landscapes. Rainfall
gardening often greatly limits which species can be used succesfully. Gardeners
also need to know how much and how often to water plants in maintenance
lanscapes.
pH- The ability of plant roots to take up water and nutrients depends
on the pH (measure of acidity or alkalinity), presence of soluble and insoluble
salts, and aeration of the growing medium. The successful culture of all
plant species requires that they be grown in a medium within a definite pH
range and with from 10 to 14 essential nutrients in appropriate balance.
Although plants may tolerate some extraneous elements and compounds, every
plant species and cultivar has well prescribed limits.
Be sure to check out
Plants
101 Main Page |
Garden
Plants A to Z Main
Page | Koi
101 Main Page
Gardening
is a journey: "We hope you enjoy yours"! |
Why a
map?