Lilacs

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small_garden Haverhill, MA Nov 06, 2009

The garden center near my home is having a sale on Lilacs. I would like to buy 8 plants, but I live in zone 5. If I don't have time to plant them now, can I over winter them in the container? Thank you.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Nov 06, 2009

You would need to bring them into the garage or basement to protect the roots from freezing, otherwise they will overwinter just fine.

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small_garden Haverhill, MA Nov 07, 2009

Both my garage and basement are very dark (no windows), do they need any sun?

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Nov 07, 2009

Do you possibly have a mud room with windows? Or, in a protected area of the yard, you could just bury the pots for the winter, and then in the spring dig the pots out and plant the lilacs where you want them. You have to keep the roots from freezing, no matter where you put them.

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JulieQ Bella Vista, AR(Zone 6b) Nov 07, 2009

Hey, smallgarden.
I grew up with lilacs in Minnesota and it is too warm for them here. I envy you!
If your lilacs are already dormant, does it matter if they get any sun? I would just be sure to get them in sun as soon as the ground is thawing in the spring. If you have a super protected area outside, you might be able to surround the pots with hay bales. Or rig up some other kind of super protection... lilacs are quite hardy...down to zone 1 or 2.

Here is a website that might be helpful:

http://www.nh.gov/lilacs/lilacs/planting.htm

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Nov 07, 2009

You can overwinter them in a coldroom or a garage (as long as it doesn't freeze) in the pots they are in. They will go dormant, if they aren't already. If you keep them indoors, they should be kept in DARK, though, to keep them from being stimulated by light - you don't want them to grow until the lengthening days in spring cause them to start leafing out.

I doubt very much that your ground is frozen yet. Why not just plant them out - lilacs are extremely tough. If the area you want them in is not yet ready, you could just heel the pots in for the winter, i.e. plant them in the soil in the pots. Then, in spring, plant them where you want them. Nurseries up here winter-over potted trees in this way - it works, needless to say. I'd venture to guess that it's actually less risky than trying to keep them in a garage, where they are likely to exposed to light, or drying out, or possibly freezing.

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