Central New Hampshire is mainly located within the planting zones 5a and 5b, with only a few exceptions. In this guide, we’ll explore these zones to help you choose the best plants for your landscape.
But if you want to know what are the planting zones of other regions in this beautiful state, read the articles below:
What planting zone is central New Hampshire?
Note: Defining “central New Hampshire” can be challenging, as opinions on the exact boundaries often vary. For the sake of this guide, we’re considering the region that stretches from Littleton to Concord as central New Hampshire.
Most of central New Hampshire falls within zone 5a, which experiences average minimum temperatures of -20 to -15 F. However, there is a significant region near southern New Hampshire that is in zone 5b, where temperatures range from -15 to -10 F. Additionally, there are some small exceptions throughout the region that fall into zones 4a, 4b, and 6a.
In this guide, we’ll analyze each central New Hampshire county, so we can take a more detailed look into each planting zone:
Grafton
Grafton County is primarily situated within zone 5a, but there are some exceptions. Here’s what you need to know:
- Zone 5b: The south and southeastern parts of the county fall into this zone, including towns near Interstate 93, such as Thornton and Plymouth.
- Zone 5a: Most of the county is in this planting zone, including towns like Hanover and Lebanon.
- Zone 4b: Some small areas in the county’s northernmost region, such as Littleton, and areas near the White Mountains, including Mount Moosilauke, Cannon Mountain, and Mount Lafayette, fall into this zone. It experiences average minimum temperatures ranging from -25 to -20 F.
- Zone 4a: The peaks of some of the White Mountains are in this planting zone, where average minimum temperatures range between -30 and -25 F. Only dwarf vegetation grows here due to the harsh conditions.
Tip: North Haverhill has areas in zone 4b, near Clark Brook, and other areas that are in zone 5a. If you’re not sure which zone you’re in, type your ZIP code in the USDA plant hardiness zone map.
Carroll
Carroll County is primarily located in zone 5a, which includes towns like Conway and Ossipee. The only exceptions are:
- The southern part of the county, near Lake Winnipesaukee, falls into zone 5b. It includes the town of Wolfeboro.
- A small region near Intervale and North Conway that is also in zone 5b.
Belknap
Most of Belknap County falls within zone 5b, including the town of Gilford. This zone experiences minimum extreme temperatures of -15 to -10 F. The only exceptions to this are:
- Laconia, the county seat, located in the center of the Lakes Region, falls into zone 6a, experiencing slightly warmer winter temperatures.
- George Duncan State Forest is in zone 5a, which has colder temperatures than other parts of the county.
Merrimack
The part of Merrimack County that we’re considering as central New Hampshire in this article (above Concord) is mainly in zone 5b. However, there are a few exceptions (as usual):
- The northernmost part of the county, near the town of Danbury, falls into zone 5a.
- There are some small areas in zone 6a, one near Lake Sunapee and the other in Mt. Kearsarge State Forest Park. This zone experiences milder winter temperatures of -10 to -5 F, minimum.
Sullivan
Sullivan County encompasses three planting zones: zone 5a, zone 6b, and zone 6a. Here are some details about it:
- Zone 5a: This zone covers mostly central and northern Sullivan County, including the county seat, Newport.
- Zone 5b: Some regions in the east and west of the county fall into this zone, which includes the county’s largest city, Claremont.
- Zone 6a: This zone is found mostly in the lower half of Sullivan County.
Strafford
Strafford County features two planting zones: zone 5b and zone 6a.
- Zone 5b: The upper third of the county falls into this zone. Towns like Milton and Middleton are included.
- Zone 6a: The rest of Strafford County is in zone 6a, which has milder winter temperatures. This includes the city of Dover.
Tip: If you live in Dover or surrounding areas, you might be dreaming of having a beautiful lawn, but you’re not sure which grass types are best suited for the area. Check our guide, The Best Grass Seed for New Hampshire Lawns, for more information.
Call a pro
If you want to learn more about planting zones, be sure to check out our detailed article: How to Use the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in Your Yard.
However, if you’d rather be hiking to Franconia Falls than worrying about planting zones and your landscape, we don’t blame you. Call a local lawn care professional to handle everything, from choosing the best plants based on your area’s planting zone to planting them. Enjoy your time outdoors while the experts take care of everything.
Main Image Credit: Warren LeMay | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0
