Meet the Authors
What Would You like to Learn About Today?
Great Garden Plants has a team of gardening specialists creating all of the helpful and informative posts found in this blog. Learn a little more about these exceptional plant specialists and authors below.
Miranda Niemiec
If you want to know the science behind plants, Miranda is here to help. A plant biologist and fan of all things flowering, Miranda loves to make gardening and horticulture accessible to the masses. She has traveled all over the world (from Africa to Central America and the UK) researching plant biology and nutrient dynamics and knows just what your plants need to call your garden home. Whether you’re reading her blogs or watching her videos on YouTube and Instagram, you never know what she’ll teach you next.
Lindsey Griffith
Lindsey is a content marketing specialist combining her love for data and writing with her love of plants! She has worked with horticultural industry changemakers nationwide to help spread the word about their improvements to controlled environment agriculture. From blogging to search engine optimization, Lindsey works diligently to share gardening tips with everybody. Why? Because gardening is for everybody!
Stacey
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Use Insulation
If you can’t move your containers to shelter, you’ll have to bring to shelter to your containers! Try wrapping your pots with insulation, like blankets, burlap, or thick bubble wrap. This protects your pots from cracking – but more importantly – it protects the roots from harsh freezes that can damage the plant.
Don’t mind the extra work? You can always use nature’s protection: the soil. Dig a trench and bury the potted containers up to the base of the plant. This will provide as much insulation as it would have if planted in the ground.
No matter which option you choose, make sure you finish by insulating your plants with a layer of mulch. This ensures the soil stays moist and a little warmer
Water (Lightly!)
Surprised you still need to water your plants in winter? Dormant does not mean dead, so your plants still need water! Roots may die from desiccation in dry pots, so it’s important to keep them moist throughout the winter. This generally isn’t a problem if your plant isn’t sheltered from winter precipitation. However, if you moved your pots under a covering, they shouldn’t be ignored.
When we say moist, we do not mean soaking wet. It’s important to water your plants infrequently and with a light hand. Check on your plant every few weeks or each month, feeling the soil with your fingers to get a sense of how wet it is. If the soil feels moist, skip watering. If it’s drying out, consider lightly watering again.
Avoid Fertilizing & Pruning
It’s natural for plant growth to slow down (or stop completely) in fall and winter for a good reason. Leafy new growth and soft stems are not tolerant of cold temperatures. They’re the first part of the plant to die once freezing temperatures hit. What does this have to do with fertilizing and pruning?
Both fertilizing and pruning encourage the development of new growth on plants (particularly, shrubs). Do not apply fertilizer after midsummer to allow your plant to naturally enter dormancy. If you’re planning on pruning or cutting back your plants, do so in early spring.
Top Spring Blooming Flowers That Are Deer-Resistant
Here, we list our top spring-blooming flowers that will add a vibrant pop of color to your garden and keep deer at bay.
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Creeping Phlox
Here, Great Garden Plants dives into seven things you probably didn’t know about creeping phlox and how these unique traits make it the powerhouse of ground covers.
Great Garden Tips: March 2023 Checklist
It’s time to welcome spring! Here are the timely garden tasks for March 2023, specially curated by the Great Garden Plants team.
Great Garden Tips: February Checklist
Spring is right around the corner. Check out our February Garden Checklist to make sure your garden is set up for springtime success!
