Frost Advisory, what to do with my plants?

[YadaYadaYada]

I know some of you guys (looking at you Monarch) are much more seasoned in the gardening department than me. We have a frost advisory tonight, not in our county but the next county over. CT is a small state so the next county is literally 20 minutes away. Just planted two lily plants (one just this past weekend) plus I have mums in the ground and planters with begonias. There are also succulents in a bird bath outside.

Do I need to cover them and what do I cover them with? Yes I am this clueless!

 

[tyty333]

I'm no expert Stephanie but I can tell you what we do (and by "we" I mean my DH). We bring plants in the garage that are in planters. Anything
else gets covered with sheets or slightly heavier blankets if the plant can support it. It doesnt get all that cold in FL but when it gets down into the
low thirty's plants need a little something to help hold the heat in. It can be a pain covering and uncovering but we find that it works pretty well.

Like I said, I'm in FL...I'm sure some folks that live closer to your area will chime in.

Good luck...hope all you plants stay nice and warm!

 

[lambskin]

You can cover them with a light sheet overnight and remove in the morning. If they are fragile you can put stakes around the plants to hold the weight of the sheet. You can also add leaves and mulch around the plants as well to keep the ground warmer. Do this with the sheet and you should be OK. Eventually your plants will need to survive a killing frost to grow next year. But if the roots are still immature and have not taken you will have to TLC them for a while.

 

[monarch64]

In Chicago my neighbors used to cover their rose bushes (after pruning) with plastic waste bins. Other than that, hardware stores sell coverings for plants, or you can make your own with old sheets or whatever fabric you might have lying around. You just want to keep the cold wet off the foliage at this point. If your lilies aren't actually cold-hardy, dig them up for the winter and bring them indoors. I've done that with begonias, etc.

 

[Calliecake]

Stephanie, I cover mine with sheets. i went to Walmart and bought the cheapest sheets I could find years ago, . I have only covered them in the spring. When I have mentioned covering plants in the fall my husband tells to stop the insanity.

 

[Bonfire]

Your Mums will be fine. Begonias (their stems are full of water) are very cold sensitive and should be covered. Are your succulents varieties of Cactus? If so they need to come inside. Sheets lightly placed on top will do just fine. Nothing wrong with extending the season by protecting your plants!
Good luck.

 

[Arcadian]

Wow frost...I can barely remember what that looks like now! But yes bring in young potted plants, anything in the ground you might want to cover (buckets are fine unless they're big, then use cloth or even trash bags, whatever works. Mums will be fine, they can handle frost.

There's a burlap fabric in big ol rolls that you can get from just about any garden center. that works great.

When we lived in Mass, I had to cover the rhododendrum when they were still young. we had 8 of them...whoosa!!! that was something else!

 

[AprilBaby]

Monarch: I have three gorgeous hibiscus that I have in pots and I am bringing them indoors the last three winters. (Chicago). Is there any chance I could plant them and cover them to survive the winter here?

 

[monarch64]

Aprilbaby, unfortunately tropical hibiscus will not survive in the ground over winter in Chicago. You'll have to keep bringing them inside. If you want a similar look, find some hardy, perennial hibiscus to plant--there is a white variety that is just stunning.

ETA: meant to say that it is the ground temp getting below 50 degrees that kills the roots so covering them would not suffice.

 

[Bonfire]

Monarch: I have three gorgeous hibiscus that I have in pots and I am bringing them indoors the last three winters. (Chicago). Is there any chance I could plant them and cover them to survive the winter here?

Hi @AprilBaby I’m in the Chicagoland area too.
Hibiscus are tropicals and need to be brought in when the temps drop below
50’s or so. I’m still debating if I want to bring mine in to overwinter. I better decide soon! Congrats to you for your overwintering success!

Edit: Sorry I was typing when Monarch aswered you.

 

[House Cat]

Monarch: I have three gorgeous hibiscus that I have in pots and I am bringing them indoors the last three winters. (Chicago). Is there any chance I could plant them and cover them to survive the winter here?

I don't know what your zone is, but the Rose of Sharon has a really similar look to the hibiscus and it is hardy to zone 5. Some varieties grow really really tall...my neighbor has two up against our shared fence that have to be 15 feet tall. I get all of the flowers because she has som sort of tree blocking her view. honestly, I thought they WERE hibiscus until I was at the nursery this year and learned otherwise.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Thanks everyone! I wasn't sure if I could use sheets or not so that is good news. The mums are planted together and so are the lilies so that will be easy enough.

Was thinking I would have to get burlap, I know I have seen plants covered with burlap before.

 

[AprilBaby]

Aprilbaby, unfortunately tropical hibiscus will not survive in the ground over winter in Chicago. You'll have to keep bringing them inside. If you want a similar look, find some hardy, perennial hibiscus to plant--there is a white variety that is just stunning.

ETA: meant to say that it is the ground temp getting below 50 degrees that kills the roots so covering them would not suffice.

Thanks so much!!! They bloom inside about March/April so I do enjoy them!

 

[AprilBaby]

I do have Rose of Sharon, white with purple center, in the front. I have one, pink, in the back. I wish it bloomed longer.