Preparing terrace plants for winter: how to help them through the season

Your terrace is full of plants that you enjoyed all summer. But what should you do as soon as the nights get colder? With a few targeted measures, you give your plants a better chance of getting through the winter well.

Preparing terrace plants for winter begins with three things: check which plants tolerate frost, protect vulnerable pots, and ensure excess water can drain away. Move frost-sensitive plants to a suitable overwintering spot in time. Below you can read how to handle this.

When should you prepare terrace plants for winter

Start preparations in autumn and keep an eye on the local weather forecast. Protect vulnerable plants before the first damaging night frost occurs. Do not wait until there is a layer of ice on your terrace.

The right moment varies per plant and location. On an open, windy balcony, plants may need more protection than in a sheltered city garden. Even hardy plants sometimes require extra attention in an unsheltered spot.

Why are plants in pots extra vulnerable

In the open ground, roots are better sheltered. In a pot, the cold also penetrates through the sides, exposing roots more to low temperatures.

A plant that overwintering well in the garden may therefore still need protection in a pot. When preparing for winter, look at both the plant and the pot it is in.

How to prepare terrace plants for winter in 6 steps

1. Check which plants can stay outside

Check the plant label or search by the full plant name to see how hardy your plant is. A general name alone is not always sufficient: species and varieties can differ.

Then distinguish between plants that can overwinter outside and plants that need a frost-free spot. Well-known examples of the latter group are pelargoniums, often sold as geraniums. These popular terrace plants do not tolerate frost and need a bright, frost-free spot during the winter.

2. Place outdoor plants in a sheltered spot

Move pots to a place out of the cold wind, for example near a sheltered wall. Group them together for mutual protection.

Also pay attention to rain: a place where potting soil becomes constantly waterlogged is not a good overwintering spot. Shelter from prolonged wetness is at least as relevant as protection from cold.

3. Protect the pot and the roots

Wrap vulnerable pots in cold weather with insulating material, such as bubble wrap around the pot or a suitable insulating pot cover. Keep the drainage holes clear.

For the above-ground part of a plant, you can use garden fleece. Do not expect miracles from it: fleece offers only limited protection against frost. It does not make a frost-sensitive plant hardy.

4. Ensure rainwater can drain away

Place pots on sturdy pot feet or stable elevations so that water can drain away properly. Check that the drainage holes are open.

Furthermore, pay attention to the material of the pot. For outdoor use, choose a pot that is suitable for frost. This is something to explicitly check, especially with terracotta. A beautiful pot is not automatically resistant to winter weather.

5. Water less, but keep checking

Pot plants can also dry out in winter. Evergreen plants and plants under a shelter especially deserve attention, as they receive little or no rain there.

Check evergreen pot plants at least weekly and only water if necessary. Avoid waterlogged potting soil, remove saucers from under outdoor pots, and do not water when frost is expected. Plants in winter dormancy generally do not need feeding either.

6. Choose a suitable spot for frost-sensitive plants

A suitable overwintering spot depends on the plant. Many frost-sensitive terrace plants need sufficient light and protection from cold. Some can overwinter in a cool place; others require more warmth.

Citrus plants, for example, can overwinter in a cool conservatory with adjusted, limited watering. Do check whether the space actually remains frost-free. An unheated room is not automatically suitable for every plant.

Common mistakes when overwintering terrace plants

When protecting pot plants, a few things are easily overlooked:

• Only protecting the leaves. The roots in the pot are also vulnerable to cold.
• Relying on a layer of fleece during severe frost. Its protection is limited.
• Leaving water in saucers. This can cause the potting soil to remain too wet.
• Not watering at all all winter. Evergreen plants in particular can still dry out.

Therefore, adapt your care to the plant and the conditions.

Frequently asked questions about preparing terrace plants for winter

Can hardy plants stay outside in a pot

Often they can, but hardy does not mean that protection is always unnecessary. Roots in a pot are more exposed to cold than roots in the open ground. The location and conditions therefore remain important.

Do all terrace plants have to be brought inside

No. Some plants are suitable for outdoor winter planting, such as winter pansies, certain heucheras, and hardy ferns. Always check the exact species and provide these plants with a suitable pot and care as well.

How often do you water terrace plants in winter

There is no fixed schedule for all plants. Check the potting soil and adjust the watering to the plant, the rainfall, and the location. Evergreen plants under a shelter especially may still need water.

Can a terrace geranium overwinter outside

A pelargonium, which is often called a terrace geranium, does not tolerate frost. Place it in a bright, frost-free spot before the frost. Do not confuse it with hardy garden geraniums: that is a different genus of plants.

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