Winter puts patio plants to the test. Frost-hardy plants can hibernate outside if they are given solid winter protection. Cold-sensitive potted plants are ordered to move to a warm place. Here you can read important tips about the expert overwintering of patio plants.
Most patio plants will need winter protection or even a move to a warmer wintering spot
Overwinter frost-resistant patio plants outside
Numerous perennials, flowers and trees can spend the winter on the terrace. These include boxwood (Buxus), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), rose (Rosa), lavender (Lavendula), hydrangea (Hydrangea), Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) and olive (Olea europaea). The basic rule applies: hardy plant species in the bed can also overwinter outside as patio plants. The exposed position of the root ball in the bucket requires winter protection. How to do it right:
- relocation: after the first frost, resettle in front of a roofed house wall or in a corner protected from the wind
- insulating pad: Place buckets and boxes on wooden or styrofoam plates, line plant trolley with straw
- winter coat: Cover vessels with bubble wrap, followed by winter fleece or jute, fastened with twine or bow
- mulching: Cover substrate with leaves, straw, bark mulch, pine twigs or coconut disc
- maintenance: Do not fertilize terrace plants from October, water regularly and sparingly
Dead shoots fulfill an important protective function in winter. Do not cut back patio plants until February/March. Hydrangeas are a prime example. The withered flower heads serve as a bulwark against frost for already established buds.
Allow cold-sensitive patio plants
Exotic terrace plants have not learned to protect themselves against the freezing cold on their own. In good time before the first frost, tropical beauties have to clear the field outside. How to overwinter cold-sensitive patio plants correctly:
- Prepare: stop fertilizing from the end of September, water less
- Grant: hibernate at night-time temperatures below 10° Celsius
- winter quarters: bright and frost-free at an ideal 8° Celsius (not below 5° C, not above 15° C)
- maintenance: ventilate regularly, water occasionally, do not fertilize, check weekly for pests
Evergreen terrace plants such as Dipladenia, Sundaville (Mandeville sanderi) or Maracuja (Passiflora edulis) depend on a combination of plenty of light and temperatures around 10° Celsius in the winter quarters. Deciduous species also tolerate a dark, frost-free basement as winter quarters if necessary. This category includes fuchsias (Fuchsia), angel's trumpets (Brugmansia) or bougainvillea.
tips
Did you know that hanging strawberries don't want to go outside at all in winter? In fact, drooping strawberries flower and fruit profusely when exposed to a cold stimulus. Cut off all daughter tendrils in November, because only the strawberry mother plant should overwinter. Traffic lights or boxes receive winter protection and remain in a wind and rain-protected terrace corner until spring.