The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Plant Hardiness Zone Map confirms what gardeners have been noticing for years – our winters aren’t as cold as they used to be. USDA just released new ...

What do the updates to the USDA plant hardiness map mean for area gardeners? Don’t try to grow bananas just yet. How we can protect native species. Spring thaw is the gardener’s awakening, time to ...

Have you ever looked at the tag on a plant at your local garden center and been perplexed that it says something like “Zones 5-9”? This number refers to the “hardiness zones” defined by the U.S.

Dear Master Gardener: I heard that with global warming, the Brainerd area is now zone 4. Can we successfully grow zone 4 plants now? Answer: According to the USDA, temperature updates to plant ...