Source: wikiHow
If your weather is a bit too cold or your plants a bit too tender, you’ll need to help your garden through the winter. It all depends on how vulnerable the plants are, how cold the weather is, the length of the cold season and how much energy and trouble you want to spend.
For some combinations of climates and plants, no amount of extra care will keep them growing, but in many cases, a bit of extra care can bridge the gap. You can also use these techniques to extend the growing season, letting you grow vegetables earlier in the spring or later into the fall.- 1 Choose plants that are suited to your climate. This is the simplest, lowest-effort choice, as long as you can plan ahead. Learn your which growing zone you are in (if your country has such a classification system; the US system is coordinated by the USDA) or at least your likely low and high temperatures for the year and choose plants that can withstand those temperatures. Some plants may die back, lose their leaves, or otherwise go dormant in winter, so take the time to know how plants that are well adapted to your climate handle it. The disadvantage to this approach, of course, is that it limits your selection of plants.
- Annuals are plants that die back each year and must be replanted if they do not reseed themselves. In colder climates, some perennial plants may be grown as annuals if they would otherwise not survive the winter. The growing season of some annuals may be extended with shelters or by starting the plants indoors or in a greenhouse.
- Perennials are plants that continue growing from one year to the next. For these, you will need to learn what, if any, additional care they require to survive the winter.
- Talk to the people at your favorite nursery about what to expect from a plant during winters in your area. Also, ask where to plant and how to care for a plant before you purchase it.
- Look for varieties and cultivars of plants suited to your climate. There are some varieties that are bred hardier than others, making them better options for cold environments.[1]
- 2 Bring potted plants indoors. The first and easiest solution to the cold is to simply remove your plants from the low temperatures. If you have any potted plants or hanging baskets outdoors, bring them inside your home. Even a move to the garage or a sunroom will be beneficial, as this will still increase the temperature by at least +10ºF (+5.5ºC). If you’re able to, the best solution is to place your plants around the interior of your home as decoration. They’ll get the heat they need without cluttering your extra space.
- Place potted plants near windows as per their sun requirements; east and west facing windows get the most light, while north and south windows get a bit less.
- Avoid putting potted plants near vents, as this can dry them out and cause them to begin dying off.
- Placing plants too…
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