If you’re a gardener, you may already be familiar with plant hardiness zones, which identify the geographic regions where a plant or flower is most likely to thrive. These zones are a huge help in planning out a beautiful, flourishing garden that blooms all season long. But did you know that we use similar agronomic zones in lawn care? 

Climate, soil conditions, and weather are all factors that are dictated by your geographic region and can affect the growth of your grass. Let’s take a look at the three major agronomic zones in North America, and how your zone affects your lawn and informs your ideal lawn care practices.

Northern Zone (Cool-Season Grass)

In the cooler climates of Canada and the northern United States, cool-season grass varieties like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are best suited to thrive. These hardy grasses are strong enough to survive the fluctuations of hot summers and cold winters, with a period of dormancy during the winter months. 

Southern Zone (Warm-Season Grass)

In the hotter climates of the southern regions of the United States, warm-season grass varieties like Bermuda grass, centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, and zoysia grass are best suited to thrive. They also go through a period of dormancy during the winter months, but can withstand extreme summer temperatures and are resistant to drought conditions.

Transition Zone

The transition zone, the large region in the middle of the United States, between the northern zone and the southern zone, is where different climates, weather, soil conditions, and other factors overlap. It’s important to remember that the borders between zones are not precise, and cool-season grasses may be best suited to grow in some areas of the transition zone while warm-season grasses may be better suited to others.

How Your Agronomic Zone Affects Your Lawn Care Practices

At Weed Man, our talented team of technical experts design our lawn care programs and services in accordance with these agronomic zones, as well as the unique needs of each customer’s lawn. We also make different recommendations for your own personal lawn maintenance habits based on your agronomic zone, whether your lawn is made up of cool-season or warm-season grasses, and other localized factors. 

For example, the best height for your lawn will depend on the type of grass in your lawn (read our Best Mowing Practices Guide for specific recommendations for different varieties of cool- and warm-season grasses). And your lawn’s watering needs will heavily depend on your grass variety and the temperature and drought conditions in your agronomic zone (read our Ultimate Guide to Watering Your Lawn for specific recommendations).

Find a Weed Man near you, and request a free quote today!