Q.Overwintering Plants Zone 5B
Hi. I am new to NH (zone 5b) and a brand new gardener. I came from Cali and there are no winters there. Besides cutting perennials back, you don’t do anything to plants to protect them in winter. I have worked VERY hard this season on a new garden and plants around the property and I want to make sure they make it through the winter. I was wondering if anyone could help me and guide me in the process of overwintering my plants outside; keeping in mind that I have zero knowledge on this subject. :). I have looked online for the answers, but they mostly talk as if you know about the plants and gardening in general. I have learned a lot this summer, but I am clueless for this coming winter. The plants I have outside are: broadleaf hydrangeas endless summer hydrangeas fire and ice hydrangeas peonies roses (many types) rose vines English lavender hybrid Rose of Sharon (established) black-eyed susan 1. Do I need to cut any of these back in fall or winter or do I wait until spring? 2. If I have to prune at all, what exactly am I looking for to cut off and how much do I cut off? 3. Should I cover any of these with burlap and if so how do I do that? 4. I have read to cover the plants in pine needles, but I also read that they can rot with pine needles too close to them? Should I cover them in pine needles and if so, how? 5. Do I water my plants at all in the fall/winter? 6. If I bring potted plants inside, will they die back and “sleep” through the winter even though they are inside? 7. If potted plants are inside, do they need to be watered, if so, how much? 8. If potted plants are inside, how much sun do they need over the winter? Is it less than normal? 9. Will the lavender, hydrangeas and peonies die completely to the ground, or will I see the stems throughout the winter? 10. Any other overwintering (new term I just learned) 🙂 tips you could give would be great! Thank you to anyone for help. I am mostly concerned with the hydrangeas and lavender. I really want that to live.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
This is a lot for a new gardener to take on, and touching on every subject, here and just briefly, would be pages worth of reading. What I can do is point you in the direction of some articles that will help you on these subjects, though:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-5
Also, your local extension services will be of much more assistance for your zone:
