Protecting your containers from freezing weather.

14 years ago

We experienced our first first real freeze of the winter last night (mid 20's). I try to keep my container plants outside as much as possible, but just couldn't last night. When we only have a frost forecast, I cover my larger plants, tropical hibiscus, elephant ear, palms, with 45 gallon plastic trash cans turned upside down over them. For the smaller containers, I turn five gallon buckets upside down over them.

A few plants, like Gerber Daisies; I remove from their containers; replant in a raised bed, and cover with those clear plastic storage containers. They really seem to like being under the clear plastic containers. I guess they are like miniature green houses. If the weather drops below freezing for an extended period, I first cover them with oak leaves and then place the clear containers over them.

The really large plants must eventually be moved inside. I use a two wheel furniture dolly and move them to the barn for the duration of the freeze. I then move them back outside for warm sunny weather.

What do you do?

soil

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Comments (3)

jodik_gw
14 years ago
I bring in all of my potted tender plants before the first frost arrives. Some go under lights in the basement. There aren't many... a few potted Crinum, a dwarf Banana tree, a few baskets of Oxalis, Society Garlic, and a few others.

Annuals in patio pots are allowed to die, pulled out and thrown on the compost pile, and the pots stored in a garage for winter.

Any potted perennials or trees or shrubs are allowed to go dormant, then moved into an unheated garage for winter. In early spring, I'll begin opening the garage doors during the day so they can begin to break dormancy, and once the weather stabilizes a bit, they'll come back out into the yard.

I never try to save annuals or cover anything to prolong it... I've got too many other things going on to worry about a few posies that I can replace once spring officially arrives.

As for the rose and perennial beds... if it can't survive with nothing more than a few inches of mulch protection, it's not for this northern garden. I'm not babying any roses or other plants, and I don't do corms or rhizomes that require digging and storing for winter!

And... what about the rest of you guys? Do you run around covering everything with sheets and such? Or do you bring in your tender plants, and let Mother Nature take care of the rest?
soil_man
Original Author
14 years ago
jodik,

You mentioned society garlic in your post. How well will it over winter in your area? We built a new 70' X 5' raised bed out of a double layer of railroad ties this fall. We planted three varieties of yucca, a lot of bunch grass, a lot of flowers, plus some society garlic. I'm curious how well the society garlic will handle the winter weather. Will it require new plantings in the spring? What has your experience been with the society garlic?

Soil
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jodik_gw
14 years ago
I don't believe it's hardy beyond zone 7, or thereabouts. I keep it in a large pot, and the pot is brought indoors over winter. I allow it to stay drier, and it rests... in spring, I resume normal watering and bring the pot back outside. I've got a clump of variegated and a clump of regular green leaved varieties growing in the same large pot. They're just interesting ornamental bulbs from South Africa, I believe.

I doubt it would survive our zone 5 winters outdoors.

Protecting your containers from freezing weather.

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jodik_gw

soil_man
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Protecting your containers from freezing weather.

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jodik_gw

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