using plastic tarps for outdoor plants

15 years ago

Hello All,

I have kept CPs for several years, though my interest turned to toher things and I have just recently decided to redo my bog garden with hardy sarracenia and some marginally hardy plants sepecies, such as VFT, and more southern sarracenia. I have heard mention of using platic tarps to cover and protect the plants in Winter, but I have some concerns. First, will this be enough protection in temps that get 10F on very cold nights? Secondly, what about sunny days, is there danger of overheating? I had fine luck in zone 7 with most trumpets and VFTs, but move 3hrs north was too cold for my VFT and it killed my 4yo plants and have significantly slowed the S.flava, from reaching larger trap sizes and forming a larger clump. I do have an unheated basement, that would be useful for overwintering, but my bog is too large to fit through the door frame:^) I also have a covered carport, that is open to the elements on all sides, except the side against the house and the roof, which is covered. Would that prevent too drastic of freezes? I think it is the wetness, combined with the cold, b/c most of the plants survive the Winter, but succomb in cold, wet, Spring. I am greatful for your ideas.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
Tarps will not do anything. Forget it. The basement is your best bet, as long as it doesn't go below say 40 degrees F. Worse case do what I do, put in the refrigerator. Sarrs and VFTs don't need light during dormancy.
lemonsforchams
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. I kind of thought that myself, but sometimes I like to hear it from someone else..lol

I moved all my CPs(all are temperates) down to the basement, on a shelf, by the window, with a 48'' shoplight about 5'' above them, containing plant bulbs, set on a timer for 8 hrs, matching the daylight period here.

I will have to give some thought as to how to handle the VFTs, my goal was to leave everything outdoors and have it survive. I could try my little shed and place the bog in that, with a space heater run at the setting to just above freezing.

Interestingly, I'll have the opposite problem with the darlingtonia......such is life, back to thr drawing board!
Related Discussions
Has anyone used the plastic patio enclosures like restaurants use
Q
Comments (1)
any decent home and garden center or patio supply place should be able to point you in the right direction. the restaurant ones im sure are custom made and most likely very expensive. You may also try asking in the greenhouse forum, i linked it below. Here is a link that might be useful: greenhouse,etc
...See More
WANTED: Plastic pots (outdoor)
Q
Comments (3)
I have pots for you. Have plenty just let me know what size you're looking for. Would like some of your green coneflower. What kind of roses do you have? Is your maple leaf Viburnum rooted, if so, I would like that too. Any Sassafrass seedlings? Send me an email. Thanks Erin
...See More
Weed tarp for japanese knotweed and raised bed
Q
Comments (2)
Most tarps I know of are the blue variety and while somewhat sturdy, I'm doubtful. This past weekend on a garden tour, the owner used rubber roofing material to kill weeds. She said you might be able to get free scraps if you stopped at a building site where it was being used or offer to pay for a piece. We've been trying to control Japanese knotweed by spraying a brush killer on the leaves. The chemical gets to the roots that way. I would try that treatment first. Wait til the leaves wilt, then cut to the ground before laying down a tarp or rubber roofing material. It might work for a season. Don't worry about the water pooling. It will seep out to the sides. Good luck!
...See More
Any experience with billboard tarps as liners?
Q
Comments (2)
We've used 6 mil plastic from the home center. It's lasted 5 years so far in a tank, and the in-ground pond is about 4 years old and holding up. UV here destroys plastic in a single season, so I'm impressed these are doing so well. Both of these are in part shade, not full sun. How thick are the billboard tarps? Are they treated with something fish-safe?
...See More
petiolaris
15 years ago
Zone
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Example Cities
1
Below -50 F
Below -45.6 C
Fairbanks, Alaska; Resolute, Northwest Territories (Canada)
2a
-50 to -45 F
-42.8 to -45.5 C
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Flin Flon, Manitoba (Canada)
2b
-45 to -40 F
-40.0 to -42.7 C
Unalakleet, Alaska; Pinecreek, Minnesota
3a
-40 to -35 F
-37.3 to -39.9 C
International Falls, Minnesota; St. Michael, Alaska
3b
-35 to -30 F
-34.5 to -37.2 C
Tomahawk, Wisconsin; Sidney, Montana
4a
-30 to -25 F
-31.7 to -34.4 C
Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota; Lewistown, Montana
4b
-25 to -20 F
-28.9 to -31.6 C
Northwood, Iowa; Nebraska
5a
-20 to -15 F
-26.2 to -28.8 C
Des Moines, Iowa; Illinois
5b
-15 to -10 F
-23.4 to -26.1 C
Columbia, Missouri; Mansfield, Pennsylvania
6a
-10 to -5 F
-20.6 to -23.3 C
St. Louis, Missouri; Lebanon, Pennsylvania
6b
-5 to 0 F
-17.8 to -20.5 C
McMinnville, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri
7a
0 to 5 F
-15.0 to -17.7 C
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; South Boston, Virginia
7b
5 to 10 F
-12.3 to -14.9 C
Little Rock, Arkansas; Griffin, Georgia
8a
10 to 15 F
-9.5 to -12.2 C
Tifton, Georgia; Dallas, Texas
8b
15 to 20 F
-6.7 to -9.4 C
Austin, Texas; Gainesville, Florida
9a
20 to 25 F
-3.9 to -6.6 C
Houston, Texas; St. Augustine, Florida
9b
25 to 30 F
-1.2 to -3.8 C
Brownsville, Texas; Fort Pierce, Florida
10a
30 to 35 F
1.6 to -1.1 C
Naples, Florida; Victorville, California
10b
35 to 40 F
4.4 to 1.7 C
Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida
11
above 40 F
above 4.5 C
Honolulu, Hawaii; Mazatlan, Mexico

According to the zone map thingy you live in Tennessee or Missouri. You can leave your plants out there all year long. A bit of mulch would help (peat, pine needles, etc...) Or you can do like I have done - attic by a window.
lemonsforchams
Original Author
15 years ago
I actually live in PA, I just guessed on the zone, b/c I am not a zone 7, but not quite a full level different then zone 7...lol
I am in the lower, central part of PA, very near MD. We might get a 5-10F difference from zone 7 MD, but it usually a difference of 3-5F,so I made an estimate. Winters her give us some snow and drop down in the single digits or low teens reguraly for a couple of months. Below zero temps are not unheard of, but not common either. I have them in a basement, since I just purchased them form someone who grows them outdoors here, so they are nearing dormancy. He has large, in-ground troughs, that offer more portection than my above ground bog.