Overwintering my pot ghetto

Does anyone have ANY tips at all? I have decided that things don't really take off around here until right about now--so they're just falling off their peak and starting to die. My geraniums from last year are starting to come around. Short of building an expensive greenhouse, is there some kind of simple and inexpensive way to shelter my tender plants, incl. succulents? The hostas I usually just shove under a tall tree for shelter, but for the rest, I don't know if they require light, water, neglect, or just to be out of the wind. Everything hated it the year I put things in the garage. They had some light, but it was cold! I have a tarp-type fake garage next to the house, and thought about just parking everything in the space in between house and car. Ideas?

Hostas in pots should do fine outside. They all need water over the winter. Succulants also do fine outside in pots. Unless you have some that are very tender. What kinds of things are you talking about?

Many things you can just heel in (plant in a temporary bed). Some things can take the cold, but not the cold with the rains, so you'll just want to keep them dryish. Trying to put them against a house wall or someplace that collects the warmth of the sun may help.

I found this by accident the other day. You can use it to protect potted plants and then again in the spring to protect seedlings while you're hardening them off.

Cold Frame
http://www.readygreenhouse.com/product.sc?productId=1&categoryId=5

Or Green House
http://www.readygreenhouse.com/product.sc?productId=4&categoryId=3

You can bring your tender succulents inside for the winter. Just don't overwater them. Pretty much almost no water at all, actually. Brightest window you have, of course.

Geraniums (are we actually talking Pelargoniums here?) I pot them, cut they back to a few inches, and put mine in the garage. No water except maybe once a month just to keep the soil from being bone dry. Too much and they will rot, though. As soon as a little green starts emerging, gentle watering with 1/2 strength fertilizer. I start sitting mine outside in march, but in a protected place next to the house for a little warmth. Then I spend 2 months watching the night time temps to be sure that they don't freeze.

What else do you have? It really depends on the plant. Don't know why you are worried about the hostas, though. They are completely hardy.

Thanks, everyone. You have pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. My DH actually offered me a proper greenhouse, but I don't want to give up the space in the yard. Sink or swim has always been my rule, esp. as I don't plan on doing orchids, or even tomatoes!

What a sweet DH!

Yeah, he's a keeper! If only I realized that he actually IS listening!

Yeah. Be careful with that one. :-)