USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b averages a coldest annual minimum temperature of -5 to 0°F. Zone 7a averages 0 to 5°F. Meade County sits on the boundary — most of the county is 6b but the Ohio River valley and lower elevations are 7a.

What this means in practice

• Buy: perennials, shrubs, and trees rated Zone 7 or colder (lower is hardier).
• Skip: plants rated Zone 8+ won't survive a normal Brandenburg winter. Some marginal favorites (rosemary, figs) need protection.
• Microclimates: a south-facing wall, the river bottom, or a sheltered courtyard can buy you a half-zone. A windy ridgetop costs you the same.