Hibiscus Planted Outside -Northern Ohio

Question

We live 2 blocks south of Lake Erie in central Ohio and have planted two hibiscus trees on the south side of our home in the center of the yard. We plan to leave them in the ground over the winter. Is this possible? We have been wintering them in the house for the last 4 years and they are too large to handle anymore. We are hoping we can mulch them heavily around the root base and possibly cover the branches with burlap to protect them from the freezing weather? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

It is usually better to overwinter them indoors in colder regions but you can still offer them winter protection by locating them near structures and/or by adding a generous amount of mulch around both the root zone and main stem. For additional protection, especially on particularly cold nights, wrap the entire hibiscus bush in heavy frost cloth, burlap, or a tarp.