overwintering evergreens in MA

4 years ago

So I tried to Google this but didn't get very much useful info, and nearly everything I did find was not for my zone.

I got some evergreens (blue star junipers, boxwoods, and yellow thread false Cypress) on clearance from Lowe's the day after Christmas since they were considered "holiday shrubs". Got to love marketing lol.

I can't break through the ground right now, can I leave them in my unheated garage and periodically water like the other plants I have in there? There's no sunlight and I've never tried this with evergreens, I don't know if they'll go dormant or what even happens. They've been hanging out in the garage thus far and seem ok but I certainly don't want to lose them since I got five shrubs for $30!

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
remind me of your zone ...

the juniper and false cypress [btw.. using latin names will get you better googling] .... are probably fully zone appropriate .. if they have been outside since fall ..i wouldnt want to try to figure out how to harden them off when the ground is frozen ...

might you favor us with a pic?? ... are these indoors charley brown xmas trees??? .. basically disposable indoor holiday plants????

before i see them.. the garage might be the best bet ... best way to water.. when its cold.. is simply to put an ice cube on the media... and on warm days ... they melt a provide must the little bit of water the POT might need ...

keep in mind.. dormant plants need little water ... its more about not letting the media get bone dry.. and actually pulling moisture out of the roots ...

trying to do it with a watering can.. might end up with a ice cube pot ... and roots need air as much as water.. so freezing them into an ice cube might not be best ...

also keep in mind ... an attached garage .... with no winter wind.. and accumulated heat on sunny days .... can be one or 2 zones warmer.. so the plants might come out of dormancy a month to early ... so come late winter.. you might want to take them outdoors ... to delay early spring growth ... perhaps avoid frost/freeze damage... if you are in those areas.. which i suppose you are.. if your ground is frozen ...

ken
kali_deere
Original Author
4 years ago
Hi Ken - apologies I'm zone 6a Massachusetts.
I'm out and don't have pics in the phone but they are the same exact shrubs you'd normally buy from big box stores intended to be out in the ground. They were considered holiday because of their red pot lol. Each of the labels indicated they were Hardy to zone 4/5.

Thanks for the tips!
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
They are evergreen so I would not leave them in the garage. They are green so they continue to photosynthesize in winter and need light.

If you have anywhere on the property you can dig a hole, then dig holes and bury the pot in the ground, called heeling in the plant. Water and then just leave them until spring. If you have anywhere that leaves cover the ground, there is a good chance you can dig a hole.

Otherwise, get some mulch and put them outside in a sheltered spot such as against the foundation, and bury the entire pot in mulch to heel them in. Not the plant, just up to the top of the pot.
kali_deere
Original Author
4 years ago
babs- thanks for the info! I suppose I never thought of it that way so I'm glad I asked. I don't know if I'd be able to break through any ground, MAYBE in one of the little inlets on the side of the house, I'll try this weekend but otherwise get some mulch and tuck it away in the inlet (just this little area that's pushed IN to the house because there's a gap between the fire place and another wall. Far too lazy to go out in the cold at 8pm, lol already in my pajamas (26 going on 86) so tomorrow on the way to work I'll drag them outside at least since the temps will be mild.

overwintering evergreens in MA

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

kali_deere
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overwintering evergreens in MA

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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