What plants grow best in the Chicago area?
Some vegetables that grow well in Illinois include:
- Summer squash
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Eggplant
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Herbs
What zone is Chicago for planting?
Chicago falls into zone 5, with a low average temperature of -20°F to -10°F. More often than not, you will find a label on plants indicating that the plant is “hardy up to zone x.” Additionally, websites often categorize plants by zone.
What hardiness zone is Chicago?
Zipcode 60657 - Chicago Illinois is in Hardiness Zones 6a.
What plant zone is Chicago?
In this case we’re talking, mostly, about a plant’s ability to survive a winter in Chicago and return the next spring. Currently, Chicago is categorized as being Zone 5b where minimum temperatures range from -10 to -15° F. The back of a plant label will usually indicate a plant’s hardiness either in temperature or to a zone.
What are the best plants to grow in Illinois?
Any Illinois planting zone will offer a wide variety of both flowers and vegetables. Hosta, peonies, yarrow, daylily and allium are all good choices for foolproof, easy-to-grow options for a flower garden. Many vegetables are also easy to grow in the area.
What is the climate of Illinois?
The majority of the state has a humid continental climate and sees hot, long, wet summers with colder winters. Extremes are the norm for both regions of the state. The southern half leans more toward a humid subtropical climate while the northern half is designated as a warm-summer humid continental climate. The state averages close to around 50 days of thunderstorm activity each year, putting it just above average for the country as a whole. And average precipitation ranges from around 35 to 48 inches, depending on location. Annual snowfall can be anywhere from just about 14 inches in the south to 38 inches in the Chicago region.
What is the planting zone in Illinois?
Illinois planting zones fall between 5a and 7a, with the northern part of the state being at the lower end of the range. Before planning a garden, it is important to research planting zones specific to the region you will be growing in. Check out Gilmour’s Interactive Planting Zone Map for the exact zone in any Illinois region.
What temperature zone is Illinois?
The general rule for the zone is that plants here need to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -10 degrees to -20 degrees. However, the state subdivides this zone as well, into Zone 5a, which covers the more northern portions of the zone, and Zone 5b, which is a narrow strip across central Illinois. Zone 5a plants need to be hardier ...
What are the hardiness zones in Illinois?
Illinois is divided into two main hardiness zones, with two small northern portions of the state creeping into a third zone. The North American continent is divided into 11 zones; the southern part of Illinois is in Zone 6, while the northern part falls into Zone 5.
What is the temperature range for plants in Zone 6?
Overall, plants that thrive in Zone 6 can survive winter temperatures between 0 degrees and -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 6b, which changes the lowest temperature in which plants can survive to -5 degrees, borders the Ohio River. Zone 6a changes the range to -5 degrees to -10 degrees.
Why is it important to know the hardiness zone of a plant?
Because all plants do not have the same hardiness, it is important to know the hardiness zone in which you live so you can choose trees, shrubs, and flowers that will grow well in your area.
How many zones are there in Illinois?
Illinois is divided into two main hardiness zones, with two small northern portions of the state creeping into a third zone.
Where is Zone 4 in Illinois?
Zone 4 creeps into a tiny section of Illinois on the Michigan border, almost halfway between Lake Michigan and the Iowa border. Here, plants need to be particularly hardy, able to sustain winter temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees below zero.
Where is Zone 5 in Michigan?
Zone 5 covers the state from I-64 north to the Michigan border.
What is the best grass for shade?
Fine fescues require less maintenance than Kentucky bluegrass and can also adapt to shade. Four common types of fescues are red, sheep, hard, and chewings. Fescues can tolerate mild foot traffic, so If you plan to spend time in your yard, this is the grass for you.
What grass is most popular in Northern Illinois?
Due to its hardiness and fast recovery, Kentucky bluegrass is the most popular grass in northern Illinois. It enjoys full sun but it requires moderate to high levels of maintenance.
What zone is Chicago in?
Look at the heat zone map, and you’ll see that Chicago barely falls into zone 5 while most of the state lies in zones 6 and 7. So plants and grasses that do well in southern Illinois aren’t necessarily going to thrive in your Chicago yard. Keep in mind; most plant instructions don’t list a heat zone recommendation.
What flowers can survive a Chicago winter?
Those purple coneflowers, snowdrops, and evergreen hollies can handle some of our worst blizzards and come back even stronger in the spring.
Why use a heat zone map for gardening?
This map will help you avoid those plants which are susceptible to heat stroke.
Where is Brenda Ryan?
In her free time she enjoys traveling, gardening, visiting wineries, and running 5K and 10K races in her home state of Colorado.
Is perennial rye grass good for grass?
It’s not recommended to use as your main lawn, but it does well when mixed with other grass types.
