This region includes the coastal areas of Washington and Oregon. The Pacific Ocean provides stable temperatures with an average difference of only 30 degrees between winter and summer highs. Rainy winters and clear, dry summers in this area mean that plants grow year-round.

From Monterey County to the state border and from San Francisco to San Jose and Sacramento to Lake Tahoe, the climate of Northern California is widely varied. Often described as "Mediterranean" in nature, native as well as plants from around the world thrive in Northern California gardens.

Southern California includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area south to San Diego. The overall yearly temperatures vary only 40 degrees from winter to summer. This region is a mostly hot, dry climate, with a dry summer and a (comparatively) rainy winter.

This region extends from the deserts of southwestern California through Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, through Arizona, New Mexico, and the western Texas cities of Midland and Lubbock. The Panhandle area of Oklahoma is also included in this region. The Desert Southwest region has mild winters, blazing hot summers, and low humidity.

Gardening advice for the Rocky Mountain region covers eastern Washington and eastern Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, western Colorado, Utah, and northern Nevada. High altitudes, snow, cold winters, and hot summers characterize this region.

The Northern Great Plains region includes South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Gardeners in Bismark, Fargo, Grand Forks, Rapid City, and Minneapolis are used to cold, windy winters and warm, dry summers.

From Denver, Colorado, west to eastern Missouri, the Central Great Plains region includes eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. Cold winters, hot summers, and low rainfall challenge gardeners of the Central Great Plains. Major metropolitan areas of this region include Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines, and Lincoln.

The Great Lakes Region includes Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and western New York. Gardeners living in Chicago, Indianapolis, Evansville, Milwaukee, Madison, Columbus, Cleveland, and Springfield will find information for success with gardening and lawn care.

The Northeast region includes the New England states and eastern upstate New York. The Northeast has long, cold winters and warm, humid summers. Coastal areas are slightly warmer than the interior cities.

Encompassing most of Virginia, Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York City and Long Island, cool winters and exceptionally humid summers are characteristic of this region. Areas of this region near the Atlantic are more temperate and warmer in the winter.

The Mid-South region stretches from Oklahoma through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and most of North Carolina. The Mid-South has mild winters and hot, humid summers.

The Carolina Coast includes the Outer Banks of North Carolina, south to Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Mild winters and hot, humid summers combined with sandy soil present challenges for garden and lawn care.

Eastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina combine to form the Deep South gardening region. Long, hot, and humid summers and temperate winters characterize this region.

The Southern Coast covers coastal regions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. Sandy soil, tidal marshes and a climate influenced by the Gulf of Mexico affect gardeners in the Southern Coast region.

Central Florida includes Orlando, the Tampa Bay area, Sarasota and west to the Cape Canaveral area. Central Florida is flat with an almost subtropical climate. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy. Winters are mild and dry.

The Southern Florida region includes Fort Meyers, Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys. This is a true subtropical gardening region with long, hot, rainy summers and dry, mild winters.

The Alaska region includes the entire state of Alaska. Short summers and long winters characterize Alaska gardening. Areas of the state near the water have more moderate climates than interior areas.

Hawaii gardeners in Honolulu and other cities have similar challenges to gardeners in more rural areas of the Hawaiian Island. The wind, salt from the ocean, and volcanic soil are all challenges for Hawaiian gardeners.