Knowledge  of the environmental climate of the area that you live in is crucial if you want to grow a luxurious rose garden. More than knowing whether your town gets enough sun the whole year long, you should be aware of the range of cold temperatures that your town experiences – as this is relevant to what you can and cannot grow in your garden.

Know Your Area

How do you access to information about the climatic features of your area ? One of the most reliable sources of such information is the USDA plant Hardiness Zone Map which illustrates the different climate zones of all the 50 States, including Canada and Mexico. Studying this map will help you decide what to grow in your garden.
 
Each sapling that you buy, is always accompanied   by instructions of how to take care of its growth and the optimal conditions needed for its health. Irrespective of whether you are planning to grow vegetables, fruits, flowers or merely interested in landscape gardening, it is prudent to study the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map beforehand to be absolutely sure, about the climatic conditions of your area.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is very colorful and easy to read. It was created through the joint efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Arnold Arboretum (of Harvard University). The map was compiled after tracking many years of climatic data of the average lowest temperatures throughout the United States. Different climate zones are shown through the use of different colors, where Zone 1 being the area with the (lowest )coldest temperature, which has recorded the lowest of -50 F (-45 C). Similarly, Zone 11 is a Zone where the lowest temperature, during any time of the year, is always above 40 F (4 C)

As is expected, the  northernmost part of North America covers the coldest zones, with the temperature getting warmer as you travel towards south. Variations occur in areas with higher elevations, which is also expected.
 
Its extremely easy to locate your climate zone in the Map. Just visit a website which carries the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Locate the area where you  live and then click on it in the map. The climate zone soon appears in front of you !
 
The Importance of the Map in Rose Gardening

While growing roses need a lot of attention, care and maintenance, it is still not that difficult as a lot people seem to think. What is critically important in the cultivation of this flower is the climate. There are a variety of species of roses which you can grow and some are tougher than others. Obviously the hardier ones can survive bitter cold climates, provided of course they are given proper seasonal treatments. In case you live in one of the colder zones (zones with low numbers), grow only those varieties which are suitable for your particular climate. Or else, the roses will just look prettier in the nursery than in your garden !