Learn easy tips to wrap potted plants for winter, protect roots from frost, and keep your outdoor plants safe during the cold season.
If you have potted plants in the garden and live in regions where the temperature falls below 32 F (0 C), then those plants will need some extra care to survive winter. Freezing temperatures and dry winter winds can damage them, especially if they’re in containers. Here is a quick guide to help your plants survive the cold months and stay healthy when the weather gets chilly. Read below the best Tips to Wrap Potted Plants for Winter.
Why You Should Cover Potted Plants During Winter?
Plants growing in the ground stay warmer because the soil around them acts like a blanket. But potted plants don’t get this kind of protection—they’re above ground, with only a thin layer of potting soil and the container walls to shield them from the cold. That’s why it’s important to take the right steps to protect potted plants over winter. Hardy plants that will stay outside in pots should be rated for two hardiness zones colder than usual.
For example, a plant that can survive zone 5 in the ground will only survive down to zone 7 when in a pot.
There are a few ways to wrap plants for winter, depending on what supplies you have, what structures are nearby, and how cold the winters get. You might want to buy some reusable supplies like burlap, stakes, chicken wire, and zip ties. These can be stored away in the summer and easily pulled out when winter comes.
Tips to Wrap Potted Plants for Winter
Depending on the cold, there are different ways to protect your potted plants for winter. If you only get a few freezing days, you can move your pots to a spot out of the wind and cover them with sheets or blankets.
It’s best to bring clay, ceramic, or glazed pots indoors for winter. If you can’t, wrap the pots in several layers of bubble wrap and secure it. Add a two-inch layer of mulch on top of the soil in the pot.
If your area has many freezing nights with snow and ice, you must protect your plants more. The simplest way is to move the pots into a place above freezing, like a garage, greenhouse, basement, or shed. Evergreen plants need some light, but other plants can handle being in the dark.
Check the soil to make sure it stays a bit moist—don’t let it dry out completely. Water about once a month, but not too much, or the plants could rot.
If you have just one or two pots to protect, you can “plant” them in the ground for winter, with or without the pot. Cover the top and sides with a few inches of mulch.
If you cannot move container grown plants indoors, then try these ideas:
- Move all your potted plants to a spot protected from the wind, and group them together,
- Keep the smaller pots in the middle.
- Water them well, then cover the pots with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of straw, shredded leaves, compost, bark mulch, evergreen branches, or a thermal blanket.
- If you have straw bales, place them around the outside of the group for extra insulation.
- When the temperature is above 40°F (4.4°C), check the plants to see if they need water, and water them if needed.
If your pots are too heavy to move, you can protect them by wrapping the plants in burlap or bubble wrap from the top of the plant down to the base of the pot. For extra protection, you can make a “protective bubble” around the plant. Here’s how:
- Tie the branches together to keep them from breaking. Water the plant and cover the top of the pot with mulch.
- Wrap the plant and pot with chicken wire or another type of fencing all the way down to the base. Add a stake for support, and secure it with zip ties or wire.
- Fill the cylinder with leaves, straw, or bubble wrap. Cover it with burlap or blankets, then tie it with twine. Place a cover on top using roofing paper or plastic, and secure it in place.
- When spring comes, slowly take off the layers of cover over a few days. Make sure there’s no more risk of frost before removing the last layer.
