Hello! I use santolina bushes as insect repellants in my strawberry bed. My raised bed is about ten feet long by three feet wide. I interspersed three santolina bushes. Haven't had problems with insects in that bed since then.

if I put them in there the roots will freeze killing the plants because thats what happened to my strawberries (not my chives though lol). So if I enclosed the opening to the beds maybe even stuff leaves under them (we have a bounty of those) would they make it through the winter? ==>> i am confused.. zone appropriate plants.. will NOT care if the ground freezes .. period your prior failure.. most likely.. was winter water management in a frozen pot ... the SBerries roots rotted off .. pots should be put in full shade .. never winter sun on a small pot ... else the pot might thaw in feb.. not good ... and then once frozen.. laid on their sides.. so NO WATER accumulates in frozen media.. roots need air.. water on frozen media makes ice cubes ... like you dont know that.. lol .. once frozen solid.. they could be staked on pyramid style and cover with a tarp .. but not one that will trap heat ..... to avoid excessive winter wind.. which will desiccate media like chicken in the freezer ... and they should be left as such.. until the ground starts to thaw in spring.. not too early.. the key is.. GET THEM DORMANT AND MAINTAIN DORMANCY ... and manage water properly ... ken ps: little pots thaw fast.. during these few day warm spells int eh great white north ... by stacking them into a giant mass... they will insulate themselves .... a big gob of soil.. takes a month to thaw.. compared to a quart plant ...

I too am a planting rookie somewhat- I was hoping to grow some healthy producing strawberries in containers, since my soil is mostly clay and very poor. I already have had to replant one of them, I tried it in the clay and it did poorly. I have read through all the advice and it seems to differ... Should I pinch off the flowers and let it just grow? And should I be giving them plant food for veggies and herbs, or something else? They are in basic potting soil, do I need to add sand and compost? Any help would be great. Btw I am in Prescott Valley, so mid to high elevation if that matters.

My raised bed is on the ground. In the past I have had a 2'x4' bed full of garlic. I had read about planting on the edges of the bed and I had worried about my bed being so small. I cannot remember the weather patterns, but I do remember that almost all the garlic did come up. I bought tulips this year and tried not to get to close to the edges of the raised bed for the same reason Mr.Brown suggested. Even though my garlic did survive in the past. :> I have another raised bed, about 4' off the ground so it's pretty high. Nothing survived in it after my winter. Do you think styrofoam on the underside would help? Heating cables? Just a thought.