What to do with containers over winter??
LynsBris
Posts: 5
This will be our first winter in this house and we've been growing lots of stuff in containers over the summer. Can anyone give me some advice on what we should do with any of these plants over the winter months?
Bay, Foxglove, Senetti, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, Helenium, Margarita, Osteospermum and Calamintha.
We live in Bristol so maybe not as cold as other parts of the country and our garden is West facing - any thoughts gratefully received!
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Posts
You live in quite a mild part of the UK as I do.
Bay will be fine over winter. Don't do anything with this
When Foxgloves foliage have been damaged by the frost or if it looks tatty then cut it down.
Senetti is hardy to about -1 or -2c and probably will not survive the winter (always best to take cuttings or buy new)
Rudbeckia is completely hardy, again just cut it down when its passed its best
Coreopsis - as above
Helenium - as above
Marguerites are not hardy in the UK and as with Senettis its best to take cuttings or buy new
Osteospermum sometimes overwinters but dont get your hopes up
Calamintha - same as Rubeckia etc
Hope this is of some help
think about the pots as well. I've lost as many pots in winter as I have plants.
Most foxgloves are biennial and have finished once they've seeded.
Some of the bedding type rudbeckias don't make it through the winter. Don't know if they're annual or tender.
I'd protect bay in a pot, the roots aren't as protected as they are in the ground
In the sticks near Peterborough
I've lost a bay in a pot in South east Wales so I'd wrap your pot up well for winter with bubble wrap or similar and perhaps move the whole plant if practicable into a shed or garage for a few days if very low temperatures are forcast.
Your in Torfaen too :P
Mine has been outside coming on almost 3 years now and has never battered an eyelid against the cold or snow although it is quite big now and is sheltered by a wall.
I live in chilly Yorkshire, bays in pots have been hit and miss over winter and for this reason I don't have them anymore, same with cordylines. If I eventually have a reliable greenhouse I would try again. Osteospernum has never been a problem however and has never had any special treatment over winter.