Outdoor cold hardy plants: safe to plant before a freeze?
March 17, 2016 7:30 AM Subscribe
I ordered some cold hardy ferns (ostrich and ghost) and wintergreen to install in a shady area in my yard. They arrived today, just before my area (Boston, zone 5b/6a depending on your map preference) is due for a mild cold snap with temps in the 20s over the weekend and a possible snowstorm.
I'm wondering if it's safe to plant these now, or if I should wait until it warms a bit. I know they're cold hardy, but worry that they'll struggle with the cold as wee baby plants trying to get established. If it's relevant, the ghosts and wintergreen are small potted plants and the ostriches were delivered bare root without foliage.
Thanks, garden experts!
I'm wondering if it's safe to plant these now, or if I should wait until it warms a bit. I know they're cold hardy, but worry that they'll struggle with the cold as wee baby plants trying to get established. If it's relevant, the ghosts and wintergreen are small potted plants and the ostriches were delivered bare root without foliage.
Thanks, garden experts!
I'd plant them and cover them with a blanket of leaves and/or a cheap-o plastic shower curtain. You could maybe just leave them in your garage as long as you don't forget them and let them dry out--as long as it's not a heated garage so if it's in the forties or so it's okay.
Don't bring them into your house -- that's too stressful and weird for them.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:44 AM on March 17, 2016
Don't bring them into your house -- that's too stressful and weird for them.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 11:44 AM on March 17, 2016
Do you have a garage where you could give them shelter for a couple days?
posted by SemiSalt at 2:26 PM on March 17, 2016
posted by SemiSalt at 2:26 PM on March 17, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions and the overall gut check that a Nor'easter is not the best way to introduce these guys to their new environment.
We usually keep the house pretty cool, so I'm cautiously keeping the potted plants indoors in a cooler corner that gets indirect light. The ostrich rhizomes are lightly moistened and in the unheated basement until I can put them outside more safely. I'll post an update when I hopefully get them in the ground in a few days!
posted by hilatron at 6:09 PM on March 17, 2016
We usually keep the house pretty cool, so I'm cautiously keeping the potted plants indoors in a cooler corner that gets indirect light. The ostrich rhizomes are lightly moistened and in the unheated basement until I can put them outside more safely. I'll post an update when I hopefully get them in the ground in a few days!
posted by hilatron at 6:09 PM on March 17, 2016
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posted by Toddles at 8:00 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]