Tips on preparing plants for winter

JACKSON, Tenn. — Water is able to flow for now, but winter is coming and so are colder temperatures that can freeze unprotected plants.

Most of West Tennessee woke up to the first frost of the fall Monday morning, so before cooler temperatures move in long term, we spoke with a local nursery for tips for winterizing your plants.

“If you have houseplants or plants that have been out on your patio or outside that you’re wanting to overwinter inside, probably one of the most important things is to check and make sure you don’t have any insects on them,” said James Wick, nursery manager for Morris Nursery and Landscaping.

Mealy bugs, whiteflies and spider mites are among the most common insects found on plants.

Even if you don’t see insects on your plants, Wick recommends treating your plants with an insecticide powder or soap anyway to prevent insects from coming into your home.

Wick also says you don’t have to wait for spring to plant some things. Vegetables such as turnip greens, mustard greens, and garlic can be planted in the fall, but they’ll need to be covered.

“You can still go ahead and seed those, but you might want to tent them with a cloth over the cold periods in winter and that’ll get you some vegetables throughout the winter,” said Wick.

Perennials can also be planted in the fall.

So long as the soil temperature stays above 50 degrees, these plants will have root growth and will make them sprout to life quicker in the spring.
Evergreen plants and succulents are a little different.

Many of these plants can handle harsh cold temperatures without losing the plant. With succulents, double check what species you have and how low of a temperature it can handle.

Larger outdoor plants can be moved to a garage. They may lose foliage over the winter, but they will bloom again in spring.

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