Get Your Plants Cozy for Cold Weather
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We're getting close to freezing temperatures overnight, which means it’s time to move the plants you're overwintering to their seasonal homes! Many tropical and tender perennials can survive our winters indoors, if you help them through the transition. Whether you’re saving a favorite begonia, a tropical hibiscus, or just curious to try your hand at overwintering, we'll walk you through how to do it.
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There are four main ways to overwinter plants:
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1. Store Tubers and Bulbs
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Dig up these roots right around first frost. Lay them out to dry for about a week, then store them in dry peat moss, sawdust, or individually wrapped in newspaper in a cool (35-55°F), dark area like a basement or garage.
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Snip 3–5" cuttings with several sets of leaves. Remove the lower leaves, dust the bare stem with rooting hormone (you’ll find this in our Plant Pharmacy), and plant them in moist, well-drained potting mix.
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As an alternative you can root the stems in water, then pot them up when roots appear. Just be sure to handle them gently, as water-grown roots are more delicate.
Keep your new starts where they’ll receive bright, indirect light through winter.
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3. Make a Home for Temporary Houseplants
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Before bringing potted plants inside, treat the soil with a soil drench to avoid hitchhiking pests like aphids or mealybugs (but skip this method for edible plants.) If you notice fungus gnats, irrigate the soil with mosquito dunks dissolved in a watering can.
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Keep your temporary houseplants in a bright, cool location and water sparingly, as their growth slows down in winter. When spring approaches, gradually increase both light and water before returning them outdoors.
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4. Keep Dormant Plants Cool and Dry
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Once frost hits and leaves begin to yellow, move dormant plants indoors to a space that stays between 40–55°F. A dark, unheated basement, garage, or root cellar works perfectly. Keep watering to a minimum—just enough to keep the roots from completely drying out.
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Other timely gardening tasks:
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- Disconnect your hoses! Freezing water can split hoses or damage your spigot.
- Clean up the vegetable garden. Once frost has done its work, clear dead plants to prevent overwintering pests and diseases. After cleanup, mulch the beds with straw to protect soil and preserve nutrients over winter.
- Plant hardy bulbs and garlic now. They’ll use the mild winter spells to send down roots and burst into growth first thing in spring.
- Protect trees, shrubs, and perennials. Add a 2–4" “doughnut” of wood mulch around the base of trees and shrubs, and mulch perennial beds 2-4" deep to insulate roots and prevent freeze–thaw damage.
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We’re also working on "first frost" tasks here at Hoerr Nursery, cutting back and putting away many of our perennials for the season. But if there’s something special you’ve had your eye on, just let us know, and we’ll be happy to bring it up front for you! Many hardy varieties can still be planted safely this late in the year. Great options include:
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Allium
Amsonia (pictured)
Astilbe
Daylily
Hardy Bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, etc.)
Hardy Geranium (Bevan's Variety, Boom Chocolata)
Hosta
Joe Pye Weed
Lythrum
Nepeta
Penstemon
Peonies
Phlox
Rudbeckia
Russian Sage
Salvia
Sedum
Siberian Iris
Yarrow
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As you're working on tucking your garden in for the season, don’t hesitate to give it a few final flourishes before the cold weather truly sets in! And as always, get in touch if you've got any gardening questions. We're always happy to hear from you.
Happy gardening!
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Give your landscape an instant upgrade this fall with our premium, homegrown BIG trees, on sale now, with planting and local delivery included!
Prices start at just $752, with rates based on tree size and age. Choose from some of our most impressive nursery-grown selections:
We also have a limited selection of other mature varieties available on sale. Ask our team for details before they're gone!
Don’t miss your chance to add a beautiful, established tree to your landscape! Call 309-691-4561, or text Bryon at (309) 208-6076 to reserve your spot for a personalized tour of our tree farm today.
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Join Us For Hands-On Holiday Workshops ✨
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Celebrate the spirit of the season with our Hoerr Nursery holiday workshops! No matter your skill level, we'll show you how to craft DIY decorations that bring warmth and cheer to your home.
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Choose from three festive options:
Holiday Wreath Workshop: Decorate your own fresh and fragrant evergreen wreath, and add a handcrafted touch to your front door.
Holiday Porch Pots Workshop: Create a custom porch pot filled with a lush selection of evergreen boughs grown right here at Hoerr Nursery. Our team will help you design a festive planter to greet your guests throughout the winter months.
Holiday Centerpiece Class: Whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-timer, craft a one-of-a-kind evergreen centerpiece for your holiday table.
Bring your friends, and don’t forget your gloves and clippers. (If you don’t have them, we’ll happily lend you some.) You’ll leave with beautiful custom creations! Reserve your spot today by signing up on our website at hoerrnursery.com/workshops.
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