HOW TO KEEP POT PLANTS SAFE IN WINTER

Home » Home and Family » Gardening Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Custom Search Search Simon Ballard Basic Author | 4 Articles Joined: November 11, 2016 United Kingdom How to Keep Potted Plants Safe in Winter By Simon Ballard | Submitted On January 08, 2018 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article If you are an avid gardener, you know well enough that growing plants in containers is a tough job. Even more so is when winter comes around and you need to invest effort in keeping plants safe. There are many challenges for your potted plants during winter: drying out, wind, sudden temperature drops and root damage, to name a few. Even hardy plants, which are acclimated to your zone, can sustain damage during the cold season. The top part of a plant may be dormant, but the roots don't enter such a state. Any plant in a container will have its roots exposed to ambient temperatures. Here is how you can protect root systems in the winter: Avoid exposing plants to temperature fluctuations - fluctuating temperatures are the main issue of winter. Going from hot and cold can stress roots and cause other side effects. For instance, it is common for such fluctuations to heave the plant out of the pot. That is easy to avoid when you place the pots on the ground and not on pavement. The main source of heath comes from the earth. A problem with pots on pavement is that it can get warmed up significantly during the day, elevating the temperatures. Then, when night comes, the temperatures drop, leading to unfavorable fluctuations. Choose big pots - most expert gardeners agree that the larger the pot, the better for the plant. The reason is rather simple: with an increased volume of soil, the plant roots will be far better insulated. A small container doesn't do a decent job at keeping roots safe from cold temperatures. A smaller container will also freeze faster and dry out roots quicker than a large one. For this reason, opt for a pot that is at least an inch thick. Plant early - planting your flowers in containers and pots as soon as possible gives them enough time to harden off. That way, when winter comes around, plants will be healthy and mature, ready to tolerate the stresses of the season. Avoid planting in late autumn, as that is not sufficient time for plants to harden off. A cool trick you can borrow from gardeners is to pick plants that are used to hardiness two zones cooler from the one you are located in. Find a proper location of the pot - the place of the pots also matters a lot. Ideally, you want to place pots on the north side of your property, with more shade. Any spot that experiences a great deal of sun is susceptible to big temperature swings and so should be avoided. Then there is also the interest factor: you want to put plants that have attractive features somewhere they will be easily seen. As such, place them near a window or your front door for easy exposure. By following these tips and tricks, you can make it easier for your potted plants to make it through the winter. That is how your gardening efforts will be awarded. For further info, contact 020 8629 1307 or visit http://www.local-gardeners.co.uk Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Simon_Ballard/2352079 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 3 times Word count: 503 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Home and Family: Gardening Simon Ballard Email Address Subscribe We will never sell or rent your email address. Gardening Article Feed Gardening Article Feed Find More Articles Search Similar Articles Gardens, Garden Tips 10 Garden, Garden Tips 4 Gardens, Garden Tips 11 Gardens - Garden Tips 8 Garden - Garden Tips 9 5 Benefits of Gardens & Gardening Indoor Vegetable Garden - Garden All Year Round Gardeners Garden Tips Easy Layer Gardening - Gardening Without Digging! Hydroponic Gardens - Gardening Without the Soil Recent Articles Gardeners Rejoice! Spring Is Right Around the Corner The How-To Of Rhubarb Things To Keep In Mind Before Palm Tree Removal When Should You Trim Your Trees and Shrubs? Top Tips For Tree Care And Cutting Ways to Be a Great Gardener Tips for Preparing Your Garden for Winter The Benefits of Smartweed Algae Control for Ponds Growing Water Lilies And Water Lily Care EzineArticles.com About Us FAQ Contact Us Member Benefits Privacy Policy Shop Site Map Blog Training Video Library Advertising Affiliates Cartoons Authors Submit Articles Members Login Premium Membership Expert Authors Endorsements Editorial Guidelines Terms of Service Publishers Terms Of Service Ezines / Email Alerts Manage Subscriptions EzineArticles RSS © 2018 EzineArticles All Rights Reserved Worldwide