My husband and I are moving from Los Angeles to the southwest suburbs of Chicago, and we've got a chance to grab some perennials from a house in Green Bay, WI. I'm wondering if we should transplant them now and plant them outside, or if we should try to keep them in our basement for the winter since it's a bit chilly. Our basement has good natural light, so I'm not sure what the best approach is. Any gardening advice?
3 Answers
Most perennials need a dormant period to thrive. Keeping them indoors is usually not ideal (unless they're tropical), as roots need exposure to colder soil temperatures. If they're already dormant, plant them outside now; they'll start establishing roots to prepare for the spring. Plus, adding some wood chip mulch will help protect them through freeze and thaw cycles in winter!
If you can, plant the perennials outside as soon as possible. Most perennials can handle a light frost, especially those coming from Green Bay—they're used to colder weather. If you're worried about the weather, you can keep them in their pots for now but get them settled in the garden by spring. Just be careful about where you plant them; make sure they have a cozy spot to thrive next year!
If you decide to keep them in pots for a bit, just make sure the pots have enough soil around the roots to keep them insulated. Water them occasionally during winter—just enough so they don’t completely dry out. But really, getting them in the ground is preferable if the weather allows it!
Thanks for the tip! How often should I check on the soil moisture?