Overwintering with Special Circumstances

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valal Natick, MA Sep 03, 2015

Need some advice. I have a good number of plants in pots that I either received as bear roots or small traded plants, and I potted them up and have been giving them TLC before I put them into the ground this fall. I recently hurt my back and I MIGHT not be able to get them in the ground this fall. I am going thru Physical Therapy now and time will tell.

Could I have the pots moved to the garage and overwinter them there vs in the ground. Would it be the same or with the cold surrounding the pot would they perish? It is not a heated garage; I DO have a basement that would run about 40 degrees (at lowest) during the winter but I thought that would be too warm to overwinter. I'm talking everything from daylilies, hostas, and other perennials.

Suggestions? Advice?

THANKS in advance.

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Sep 03, 2015

Your unheated garage should be fine - it will stay considerably warmer than outdoors. If your basement stayed that cool all the time, and especially if you had a room that could be kept dark, it would be ideal, but maybe not if it is often warmer.
Leave the pots outdoors through fall until the plants have gone dormant, i.e. foliage has died off. Note that many perennials are evergreen, so won't actually die off - they'll still have leaves, but won't be in an active growing phase. Hostas will die off completely. Daylilies, even the "evergreen" ones, also turn to mush here after a few frosts - perhaps not much different there?

Another alternative would be to leave the pots outdoors but bunch them together and mulch around and over them for a little extra protection (to offset the fact that they are in pots and don't get the benefit of a large soil mass), if your condition allows it. This may possibly be less effort than hauling pots around?

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Pistil Lake Stevens, WA(Zone 8a) Sep 03, 2015

I agree with Alta.
I hope the back improves quickly. Don't overdo it in the garden as it gets better.

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valal Natick, MA Sep 05, 2015

Thank you both for your advice and info!!
Boy, it sure has cooled down...54 degrees this morning!! Fall is definitely around the corner.

Have a great weekend!

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