Gardening in the Southeast US: Zones 7–9 Regional Guide

title: "Gardening in the Southeast US: Zones 7–9 Regional Guide"

The Southeast is a region that humbles gardeners who move there from anywhere cooler. The heat and humidity that make summer feel oppressive also make the region hospitable to a range of plants that struggle or die in zones 4–6. But the Southeast's gardening calendar is inverted relative to the rest of the country: summer is not peak growing season—it is survival mode. The productive seasons are fall, winter, and spring.

I do not garden in the Southeast, so this guide draws on the primary research from NC State Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, University of Georgia Extension, Auburn University Extension (Alabama), and University of Tennessee Extension rather than personal observation.

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Table of Contents

1. USDA Zones and Regional Geography
2. Soil: Red Clay and How to Work With It
3. First and Last Frost Dates
4. Seasonal Planting Calendar
5. What Grows Best in the Southeast
6. What Does Not Work
7. Pest Pressure
8. Disease Pressure
9. Native Plant Recommendations
10. Frequently Asked

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