TAKING CARE OF POTTED PERENNIALS
We have all been to the strip malls and shopping centers and have seen perennial shrubs and trees potted into very large containers placed at the entrances for their all-summer beauty. Now with the holidays here, some have even been decorated with lights and holiday decorations. Looks great, but will they survive the entire winter? The right answer should be “no.” No, because any perennial kept in a container during extremely cold weather conditions will die unless extra protection is provided.
If you must keep your perennials in a container for the winter, remember a few simple suggestions, the larger your pot, the better your chances of survival. Also, after Thanksgiving move your potted perennials into either an unheated garage or storage shed. This will provide the needed protection from the cold and the drying winds. If your idea is to have a pine tree on your porch as a Christmas decoration, then wait until Christmas is over and then move the plant inside to the unheated area. While the plant is inside and cold, lighting is not a factor. Bright light to no light is just fine as long as it is kept very cold. Watering is only done one time in December then the rest of the winter it will not be necessary.
Perennials in pots are usually done by those of us (including me) who do not have a yard in which to plant directly into the ground. Unfortunately, some apartment dwellers do not even have a garage or a storage shed. In this case you can do the “undoable.” Simply leave them outside and pray. Remember though the prevailing winds do come from the west and the dangerous, thawing sun shines from the south so at least move your potted plants to the north, northeast side of your house for best results.
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