{"id":29928,"date":"2024-09-13T11:49:20","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T11:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=29928"},"modified":"2024-09-13T11:49:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T11:49:25","slug":"massachusetts-growing-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/massachusetts-growing-zones\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Massachusetts Growing Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the Berkshires to Boston Harbor, your grass and plants face a climate as unpredictable as a New England spring. <strong>Massachusetts growing zones range from zone 5a to zone 7b, depending on where you are located in the state.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Figuring out your exact planting zone can help you maximize your gardening success despite these weather fluctuations. This article outlines Massachusetts\u2019 varying zones, highlighting key features and areas of each zone. For a more comprehensive guide on utilizing planting zones, see this article:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/plant-hardiness-zones-and-your-yard\/\">&#8220;How to Use the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in Your Yard&#8221;<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-d6afde10-9935-4394-8050-08e390338ee3\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article, we\u2019ll cover:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/massachusetts-growing-zones\/#0-what-planting-zones-are-in-massachusetts\" style=\"\">What planting zones are in Massachusetts?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/massachusetts-growing-zones\/#1-growing-zones-by-city-in-massachusetts\" style=\"\">Growing zones by city in Massachusetts<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/massachusetts-growing-zones\/#2-understanding-planting-zones-in-massachusetts-\" style=\"\">Understanding planting zones in Massachusetts\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what-planting-zones-are-in-massachusetts\"><span id=\"what-planting-zones-are-in-massachusetts\">What planting zones are in Massachusetts?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the map of Massachusetts showing the USDA hardiness zones:<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/USDA-map-Massachusetts.jpg\" alt=\"Hardiness zone USDA map Massachusetts\" class=\"wp-image-29929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/USDA-map-Massachusetts.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/USDA-map-Massachusetts-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/USDA-map-Massachusetts-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/USDA-map-Massachusetts-610x471.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/planthardiness.ars.usda.gov\/system\/files\/MA300_HS.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Massachusetts growing zones <strong>span from the chilly 5a and 5b in the Berkshires to the warmer 7b on Cape Cod and surrounding islands.<\/strong> As you move across the<strong> western part of the state, most areas fall under zone 6a.<\/strong><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the east coast,<strong> especially near Boston and along coastal towns, <\/strong>many places are tagged <strong>as zone 7a.<\/strong> This means that while some parts might get winter temperatures dropping below zero degrees F, coastal regions often have milder winters, with lows just hitting between zero to 5 degrees F.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>*Notes:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The USDA map shows a<strong> tiny bit of zone 5a up high in the Berkshires, near Pittsfield.<\/strong> However, the <strong>majority of the region still remains in zone 5b,<\/strong> making it a sturdy choice for those in the higher altitudes.<\/li>    <li><strong>The Bay State has been slowly becoming warmer over time, <\/strong>leading to changes in planting zones on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. <strong>Certain areas, especially around zone 6, have seen a half-zone shift toward warmer categories,<\/strong> indicating a rise in average minimum temperatures during winter.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-growing-zones-by-city-in-massachusetts\"><span id=\"growing-zones-by-city-in-massachusetts\">Growing zones by city in Massachusetts<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Massachusetts<strong> <\/strong>growing zones can vary slightly within cities due to <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-microclimate\/\">microclimates<\/a> created by urban heat islands, proximity to water bodies, or elevation changes.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> For the most accurate information, you should consult local extension offices or use the <a href=\"https:\/\/planthardiness.ars.usda.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA&#8217;s interactive map<\/a> to pinpoint their exact location.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Western Massachusetts (Zones 5a, 5b and 6b)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Pittsfield <\/strong>(Zones 5a, 5b, and 6a)<\/li>    <li><strong>North Adams<\/strong>: Zones 5b and 6a<\/li>    <li><strong>Greenfield: <\/strong>Zones 5b and 6a<\/li>    <li><strong>Springfield: <\/strong>Zones 6a and 6b&nbsp;<\/li>    <li><strong>Amherst:<\/strong> Zones 5b and 6a<\/li>    <li><strong>Northampton<\/strong>: Zone 6a<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Central Massachusetts (Zones 6a and 6b)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Worcester: <\/strong>Zones<strong> <\/strong>6a and 6b&nbsp;<\/li>    <li><strong>Fitchburg: <\/strong>Zone 6a<\/li>    <li><strong>Leominster: <\/strong>Zones 6a and 6b&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Greater Boston (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Boston: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Cambridge: <\/strong>Zone<strong> <\/strong>6b<\/li>    <li><strong>Somerville: <\/strong>Zone 6b<\/li>    <li><strong>Newton: <\/strong>Zone 6b<\/li>    <li><strong>Quincy: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>North Shore (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Salem: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Lynn: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Beverly: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>South Shore (Zones 6b and 7a)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Brockton: <\/strong>Zone 6b<\/li>    <li><strong>Plymouth: <\/strong>Zone 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Weymouth: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Quincy: <\/strong>Zones 6b and 7a<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cape Cod (Mainly zone 7a, with some 7b areas on the outer Cape)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Hyannis: <\/strong>Zone 7a<\/li>    <li><strong>Falmouth: <\/strong>Zone 7a<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;The Islands (Zone 7a, with some 7b areas)<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Edgartown (Martha&#8217;s Vineyard): <\/strong>7a and 7b<\/li>    <li><strong>Nantucket<\/strong>: 7b<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-understanding-planting-zones-in-massachusetts-\"><span id=\"understanding-planting-zones-in-massachusetts\">Understanding planting zones in Massachusetts&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">USDA growing zones are useful for selecting grass and plants that are more likely to thrive in local weather. Each zone corresponds to average minimum winter temperatures &#8211;&nbsp; the lower the number, the colder it can get.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zones range from 5a (colder) to 7b (warmer).<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your growing zone not only dictates what will thrive in your garden, but it can advise on the best for seeding and other important lawn care tasks. For detailed guidance, explore:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-plant-grass-seed-massachusetts\/\">When to Plant Grass Seed Massachusetts<\/a>\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-grass-seed-massachusetts\/\">The Best Grass Seed for Massachusetts Lawns<\/a>\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-care-calendar-massachusetts\/\">Lawn Care Calendar Massachusetts<\/a>\u201d<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-zone-5a-20%C2%B0f-to-15%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-5a-20f-to-15f\">Zone 5a (-20\u00b0F to -15\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This growing zone records winter temperatures reaching lows between -20 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. It&#8217;s mostly found in the higher altitudes of the Berkshires.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Short growing season;&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Cold winters with heavy snowfall;<\/li>    <li>Cool to mild summers.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-zone-5b-15%C2%B0f-to-10%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-5b-15f-to-10f\">Zone 5b (-15\u00b0F to -10\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This climate zone typically experiences winter lows between -15\u00b0F to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. It&#8217;s the coldest growing zone found in Massachusetts, notably in the Berkshire Mountains region.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Short growing season (typically 120 to 150 days);<\/li>    <li>Cold winters with heavy snowfall;<\/li>    <li>Cool to mild summers.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-zone-6a-10%C2%B0f-to-5%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-6a-10f-to-5f\">Zone 6a (-10\u00b0F to -5\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Located all over Central Massachusetts and some parts of Western and Eastern Massachusetts, zone 6a has winter lows that fall between -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Moderate growing season (150-180 days);<\/li>    <li>Cold winters, but not as severe as zone 5;<\/li>    <li>Warm summers.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-zone-6b-5%C2%B0f-to-0%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-6b-5f-to-0f\">Zone 6b (-5\u00b0F to 0\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This zone, arching its way around Boston and parts of the South Shore, allows more growing freedom regarding what could thrive with less regard for cold tolerance.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Longer growing season (180-200 days);<\/li>    <li>Cold winters but milder compared to zones 5 and 6a;<\/li>    <li>Hot summers.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-zone-7a-0%C2%B0f-to-5%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-7a-0f-to-5f\">Zone 7a (0\u00b0F to 5\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This warmer zone clusters mostly around coastal towns, often found in<strong> Eastern Massachusetts and across Cape Cod<\/strong>. Being one of the milder zones experienced throughout Massachusetts, homeowners in this area enjoy winter lows that hit between <strong>0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, <\/strong>indicating a relatively warm winter compared to other parts of the state.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Very long growing season (200 to 210 days);&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Extremely mild winters;<\/li>    <li>Moderated summer temperatures due to ocean influence.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-zone-7b-5%C2%B0f-to-10%C2%B0f\"><span id=\"zone-7b-5f-to-10f\">Zone 7b (5\u00b0F to 10\u00b0F)<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This zone appears in the warmest parts of Massachusetts &#8211; mainly the outer Cape and surrounding islands like Martha&#8217;s Vineyard and Nantucket. In zone 7b, winter temperatures usually fluctuate <strong>between 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/strong><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key characteristics:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Very long growing season (210 to 220 days);<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>    <li>Extremely mild winters;&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Moderated summer temperatures due to ocean influence.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-call-a-lawn-care-pro-for-help\"><span id=\"call-a-lawn-care-pro-for-help\">Call a lawn care pro for help<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the bustle of life, tending to your garden may not always be at the top of your to-do list. Or perhaps you simply prefer leaving this task in more experienced hands. No matter what your reasons might be, do know that you can always rely on a lawn care expert right here in Massachusetts.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you live in Boston, Cambridge, Springfield, or Worcester, Lawn Love connects you with the best <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/gardener\">local gardening services<\/a> that can understand the specific conditions of Massachusetts&#8217; growing zones.&nbsp;<br>Moreover, if you&#8217;re looking for someone to care for your overall lawn needs, we also have <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\">professionals near you<\/a> who provide services suited for every season.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dougtone\/5711520505\/in\/photolist-9GH34t-2fqv9PY-dEnDbQ-8KTSpa-dNBULE-6osH5m-hG6ukn-hFNks9-8Z3CwC-8ZdmyK-dNEsyP-gsmVxa-dNEVpU-hK1BNk-9TWqQc-9mnqkx-9mrRdw-bq38em-g19Tiu-aHfHMn-hJYtpa-arki6d-2efdC5V-dNF1F5-9GMdPk-dNEPxL-bhjLmT-bCX49V-dNzrrX-g19Hgp-dDytni-dNKUn9-8YZwyT-dNFjQ9-bhiUoH-9TT3JY-9GKF1C-2fyuKff-9mrUwm-bhiR6P-rwuYKL-dNzzeX-4CNouf-qRYN6U-dEHsmL-9GKZWL-8wSUWs-dNEQ2f-hHhKgY-dNFnoY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Doug Kerr<\/a> | Flickr | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Massachusetts&#8217; growing zones range from 5b in the western Berkshires to 7b in parts of Cape Cod and the islands, with most of the state falling within zones 6a to 7a.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":29932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[546],"class_list":["post-29928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-massachusetts","tag-lawn-care-ma"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/house-in-massachusetts-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Luminita Toma","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/luminita-toma\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/71"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}