Technology Makes Landscaping Easier Than Ever
Don't Let Winter Kill Your Potted Plants
Jose Wheeler
Many homeowners don't have space available in their yards for expansive flower beds. Large pots can provide you with the opportunity to add colorful foliage to your landscape design, but these potted plants are susceptible to serious damage during the cold winter months.
Here are three tips that you can use to help ensure your potted plants survive the coming winter and continue to add beauty and aesthetic appeal to your landscape design in the future.
1. Make sure that your potted plants get enough water.
Homeowners can be hesitant to water their potted plants during the winter because they believe that wet soil will do more harm than good. It's important that you recognize the vital role hydration plays in the overall health of your potted plants.
When a plant has access to plenty of water, it is more capable of withstanding the harsh winds and low temperatures associated with winter weather. Carefully monitor the weather in your area and give your potted plants some extra water on warm days, but don't let them go without regular watering when temperatures drop either.
A little freezing soil shouldn't seriously compromise the health of your plants, but a water deficiency might leave your potted plants dead when spring rolls around.
2. Add some mulch to your pots.
A great way to help ensure that your potted plants are capable of withstanding winter temperatures is to add some mulch to your pots. Mulch not only helps to act as an insulator against cold temperatures, it can be helpful in retaining the moisture that your potted plants will need to survive the winter months.
Be sure that you are using a fine mulch that is comprised of natural materials to experience the best results when protecting your potted plants this winter.
3. Move your pots off concrete slabs.
If you are using your potted plants to help decorate a patio or deck, it's important that you move your pots off the concrete slabs underneath these outdoor living areas. Concrete tends to remain cool throughout the winter months, while natural soils can stay warmer and help insulate your potted plants against the cold.
Move the pots next to an exterior wall where they will be shielded from wind, and ensure they are resting on grass or soil to help keep the plants within them warm this winter.
Caring for your potted plants during the winter doesn't have to be challenging. Preserve the health of your potted plants by giving them plenty of water, adding mulch for warmth and moisture retention, and placing the pots on soil to help keep your plants as warm as possible. Contact a landscape designer like ProTurf to learn more about how to keep your plants healthy this winter.
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When I was young, I loved helping my mother in the garden. Our yard was filled with plants and flowers that she kept in immaculate condition. Once I was an adult and bought my first home, I learned that there was much more to landscaping a yard than I ever imagined! After a little trial and error planting a few flowers in my yard that died quickly, I realized the technology that is available to aspiring gardeners makes trial and error a thing of the past. After I found out what my "hardiness zone" was, I realized I was planting flowers made for much cooler climates, and I played around with software that let me design my yard very easily! I learned a lot throughout the experience, so I thought I would share my tips with everyone who needs them. Come back often to check out my new tips!