Winterizing Potted Perennials
Many homeowners enjoy filling their outdoor living space with a variety of potted perennials (plants that will come back year after year). Many of these plants, while beautiful, are native to warmer climates, so they are susceptible to winter damage. A little TLC will protect these plants through the Iowa winter.
First, consider where your plants will be stored. You may find specific recommendations for the plant species on the plant tags, online or at your local nursery. If storing outdoors, place pots on soil instead of pavement to insulate from the bottom. Rapidly changing temperatures (from cold to hot and back) can cause significant injury to roots and may even heave the plant out of the pot.
For small to medium-sized plants that have gone dormant, create a tall cylinder around the container and plant out of chicken wire, wire fencing or hardwire cloth. Fill this with chopped leaves, straw or bark mulch to prevent the soil and plant from freezing and thawing.
Terracotta and glazed containers left outdoors may crack in sub-zero temps. To protect containers left outdoors, wrap the sides of the pots with layers of bubble wrap or burlap covered with plastic wrap to prevent them from absorbing additional moisture. With these steps, you'll be able to enjoy those perennials next year!
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