FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- When planning gardens or landscaping updates, homeowners may just think about topical considerations, like sunlight, soil and location. However, understanding your USDA Hardiness Zone is crucial in ensuring that the plants you select can survive the conditions in which you live.

A plant hardiness zone is a regional designation based on the lowest average temperature in that zip code during a 30-year timeframe. Knowing your zone is beneficial when selecting plants for your landscape or garden, as it can help homeowners make the right decision for vegetation and their longevity.

Lee County encompasses three USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 10a, 10b and 11a. While climate may be similar throughout Lee County, hardiness zones vary throughout the region. Most of Lee County occupies Zone 10b, but some coastal areas, like Captiva Island, are Zone 11a. Several areas of inland Lee County, like Lehigh Acres and Alva, occupy Zone 10a.

To determine your zone, visit PlantHardiness.ars.usda.gov. Once you know your zone, visit ffl-apps.ifas.ufl.edu/plants for a full guide on the best vegetation for your hardiness zone. In the right conditions, the right plants require less fertilizer and maintenance. Choosing plants that are more likely to survive in your zone's conditions is important so that you aren't frequently replacing plants and using more water and fertilizer than necessary.

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Lee County residents should Fertilize Smart (https://fertilizesmart.com/) and Water Smart (https://www.leegov.com/naturalresources/watersmart) by following Lee County's year-round guidelines to protect our waterways and prevent runoff:

• Sweep up spilled granules, rather than rinsing with a hose.
• Avoid fertilizing within 10 feet of waterways and keep fertilizer off impervious surfaces.
• Don't fertilize if rain is forecast.
• Limit irrigation to once per week through May.

Other crucial considerations to keep in mind when landscaping are abiding by Lee County's irrigation schedule and limiting irrigation to once per week, using less pesticide and opting for Florida-friendly vegetation that fit best in your hardiness zone, and following Lee County's fertilizer ordinance. USDA hardiness zones are primarily based on temperature, but many other environmental factors also contribute to the success or failure of plants, like sunlight, soil and water.

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To learn more about how to Fertilize Smart, visit FertilizeSmart.com. To learn more about watering restrictions and your irrigation schedule, visit LeeGov.com/NaturalResources/WaterSmart (https://www.leegov.com/naturalresources/watersmart).

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters and follow on social media: www.leegov.com/socialmedia.