Overwintering plants and trees

[grandpopswalt]

This is a followup to another post regarding preparing for winter. Any of you take any special precautions with plants (flowers, shrubs, dwarf trees) that are growing in containers (both above and below ground)? I'm referring to the colder climates where the winter lows get to or close to zero.

Walt

[Rene Schweitzer]

Walt,

Yes, you should take extra care for anything that's in a pot. You should mulch well around the plant. Their root systems are more fragile because they're in a pot. Also, make sure they get regular moisture--they can literally freeze dry to death.

For anything that's evergreen, you can buy a product to spray on the plant in fall. The name of it escapes me right now, but it helps prevent burnout and prevents moisture loss. I've used it for a couple of years, but make sure to spray ALL the plant. The sections you don't treat will be vulnerable (ask me how I know).

[altterrain]

It's called WiltPruf. You can find it in spray bottles (I have found it both in aerosol and trigger pump spray) in most garden centers or even Home Depot sometimes. Its good for all broadleaf evergreens - boxwood, hollies, azaleas, rhodies, etc. but not needled evergreens.

Like Rene said, put them in a protected spot (cold winter wind is the biggest killer!), mulch well (I use shredded leaves) and water them well when its above freezing.

-Brian 

[grandpopswalt]

Hi Rene and Brian,

Thanks for the feedback. Just to clarify a point, Do you move the potted plants from their normal location and place them in a protected area, or do you mulch them in place?

Walt

[newto gscale]

Grandpops we live in canton ohio and all of our plants are in containers. We put styrofoam around them and so far after one winter season they are doing ok. We have mostly evergreens and catius. Where are you loacated at in ohio.

[grandpopswalt]

New,

Thanks for the info. We recently (April) moved to Hudson. I'm hoping to get started on the garden RR this coming spring or summer.

The reason for the question is because one of my ideas for the new RR is an elevated roadbed. That would require that all plants be in containers or in very small, shallow pockets of soil. I've seen this done and I've even played around with the concept on test roadbeds in Connecticut.

Walt 

[newto gscale]

Walt my wife and myself belong to nogers it is a gscale train club that is located in northeast ohio and has about sixtey some members.What we have found is that if you insulate the soil around the roots you may be ok. If you would like to email me your phone number and let me know what is a good time to call we can talk instead of email. My typing is not all that good and it also takes to long.