Overwintering Plants

With the weather starting to change rapidly, it’s time to start thinking about protecting your outdoor plants. While most will be okay, there are a few that need a little extra attention or brought inside until spring.

I am a lazy gardener. If it requires a lot of maintenance, it doesn’t make the cut. However, with that being said, I have made an exception. There are a few basil varieties that will grow year after year and most of those either require a subtropical climate or need to be brought indoors and treated as a houseplant during the winter. My Greek basil is just like this, but alas, I think I waited too long as nearly all of the lower leaves have dropped. I’m still going to bring it into the garage for a week before keeping it in the house until spring just in case it bounces back, but if it doesn’t, I’m okay with that too. And yes, I think of that as being high maintenance.

For the most part I plant either native or climate specific species, which not only reduces water consumption but also increases the chances of survival for the plants. However, for color spots, I still buy what is pretty and will make a good show for a long duration.

The other thing to worry about, even during the winter, is watering. Not all plants go dormant during the winter and they still require watering, especially if they are in an area where they won’t receive any rain like under the eaves of the house. A good rule is about half as much as you would water during the summer and every other week. This will ensure they will thrive come spring and not be all scraggly and pathetic looking. Also, it is a good idea to water any temperature sensitive plants, like fruit trees and rosemary, by completely spraying the plant to basically create an icy shell to cover it when temperatures dip below freezing. This will not only protect the next years fruit on trees, but keep your rosemary from drying out and dying, as ice can only be at freezing and not below.

So check your nursery tags or go online and research if you have any plants that need some extra help for the winter. If in doubt, and they are in pots, err on the side of caution and move them to a protected area, like under the eaves of the house. Just don’t forget to water!