A quick (and cold) garden stroll Overwintering shrubs in containers

When I saw the weather forecast I put up my outdoor decor and pots the week prior to Thanksgiving and so happy I did!

Thanks for your update Erin!
I live in central Wisconsin, so I know the cold winds you are dealing with. I had to scramble this afternoon as when I went to my back porch that I had planned on overwintering some of my plants in, I discovered that the temperamental heater was not working. The porch was down to 36 degrees and I knew I had to switch to plan “B”, if I was going to save my plants. Many trips were made back and forth from the porch through the garage to the house with heavy containers of plants. Then many trips were made to the basement, the laundry room and the living room to setup tables and grow lights for plants.
I can finally breathe a sigh of relief as they are all in the warm house, the floor has been swept free of leaves that fell off encounter though the house and the grow lights turned on.
My geranium containers were so heavy, that some of them were pulled out of the pots, and put box in a cardboard box to overwinter. It killed me to do this, as some of those geraniums I have babied along for ten or more years. I will probably plant them into a different container to overwinter in the basement.
I love all of your videos and get many great ideas for my yard from watching you in your gardens. You inspired me to plant two more perennial beds this pas fall , and I used an auger to plant alliums,daffodil and tulip bulbs.

Dorothy and Darwin on the deck just chillin' made my day~Cheers

Highly recommend Hot Hands inside the palms of your gloves. Position sideways as close to your fingers as possible. Start them working about 10 minutes before you go outside. Works a charm! I'm in z5b Massachusetts. It was in the 20's almost every morning for the last 2 weeks of my garden working season (which ends the Friday before Thanksgiving.) Hot Hands really saved me.

Dedication showing use a video. Thank you😊

Don't feel bad. I haven't been in the garden for over a month now (unless absolutely necessary) and won't be until propably February at the earliest after mustering up courage to TRY and enjoy the upcoming snowdrops.

You go girl! I sooo feel you when it comes to the weather. I’m a lifelong Iowan, and you’d think I’d be ready for it each year, but I never am. All of a sudden I have a bunch of stuff I need to get taken care of outside, and it’s so cold! Thanks for continuing to bring us along. Two things: I love love love the prints in your dining room. Do you recall where you got them? And what the heck are you putting on your face? Your skin is so luminous!!!

Seeing your plastic pot hoard makes me feel less bad about my hoard. Thank you for that. 👍

Where is YOUR snow? I'll send you some from MI.

I’m in Michigan. I went to bed last Friday and woke up in January. We went from 40’s to almost 50 to just above single digits. No time for the body to adjust to that. I’m on the Lake Huron side. That West wind cranking at 30 miles an hour was numbing. It was down to 20 miles an hour today with intermittent sun (it helps). I’m not sure what ticked off the wicked witch of the west but she needs to take some gummies and calm the heck down.

love the grapevine sculpture❤

I’m a midwesterner like you and love all the seasons - but how the heck did we go from October to January?!?! We even got 6-8” of snow in the last couple of days. making it impossible to finish holiday decorations/containers. Intrigued with your grape vine ‘sculpture’ - can’t wait to see it lit. And grrr on burnt out holiday lights - I had to recycle several strands that bit the dust this year (maybe I just use them too much? Is that a thing?) :-) Love your content - I always learn and get inspiration from you. Have a great holiday season.

Zone 6 Massachusets. We got some gold too. Thanks for decorative idea using grapevines, I do grow a lot of grapes.I follow you for several years now, you always look gorgeous but I notice that you lost some weigth. I know its a personal question but how you did it.

I love the grapevine wreath container!

Erin, I haven't kept up with videos because you know.... gardening. I was so surprised at your weight loss. You look so good. I pray it isn't a situation you are having to deal with though. Be well and healthy and enjoy the catalogs as we all do in this winter time.

Have you tried spraying (diluted) essential cinnamon oil? Maybe spray that over the wood chips--it repels mice & chipmunks. I think I'd rather smell that.😆

Erin could you bring the 3 hanging pots into the basement to defrost and then replant ?

Erin- are your hanging pots light enough to bring inside or in the garage to thaw? I've brought small planters inside for a day to these when I've forgotten and let them freeze.

Thanks - just added to my checklist!

Did you or would you share Matt’s info/website??? Just catching up after thanksgiving in Minnesota 🥶🥶🥶 brrrrrr !!!!!!

Fun to see your cold weather.I live in the middle of California on the the coast. Cold nights are in the 40's and I have grown used to mild and do not miss cold winters. I certainly agree with you about the wind, it can drop temps everywhere..Continue to take care of your fingers as you attempt to finish your garden goals

I do winter pots every year by leaving the soil in - as you have done - but having about 2-1/2” clearance to the rim of the pot. Then I cut a piece of green styrofoam to fit the pot’s diameter. That allows you to stick your greens in and hold them. It works great.

Since you deal with a lot of wind, you might want to use the green floral tape to help hold the styrofoam in place. Make an ‘X’ with the tape across the pot and reinforce the tape ends to the pot by crossing them with 2”-3” pieces, holding them in place.

Thank you for the advice on dryer sheets!! I never heard of that before.

Appreciate your channel! Thx😊

I'm so glad you have a true garden dog. Magnus is the best. Loved the closeups in the video. My dogs go everywhere in my garden and it's not a problem. he'll get the idea. Just loves being with his mom. Hope to see more of him. Do you cut back your lady's mantle in fall or wait til spring? It looks ok in my yard and I thought I'd leave it.

😂the dogs are saying, “Take your time”.
I was planting bulbs that arrived day before T day and the auger ground through the top frozen layer but really had to hang on to the drill as I didn’t set the brake very light 😂. Glad they are in! I was racing to get greenhouse floor done and after finding a replacement truck it’s taking a bit longer. At least we have it dug out…sigh I just think it will have to wait though because no warm up in site.

Just north a bit. We have had two very mild winters and long fall and La Niña is bringing back winter and we are far not use to it yet.

Creative hoops!

Great video as usual! Love Magnus aka Darwin. The drier sheet mouse deterrent was a great tip. Just deconstructed a mouse condo in my outdoor grill.

Maybe try a birdbath heater. Or a seedling mat? I can take the cold but the wind takes my breath away.

I remember that wind -it's brutal. We used to wait until the very last minute to run to the end of the driveway to catch the school bus. It's not as cold and windy here in the lower Hudson Valley but still I opted to work in the garage today instead of cutting the dogwood twigs I am planning on using for the winter pots. Thanks for suggesting the heat gun - my son uses one for his 3D printing projects, so I will have to borrow it. I always have ambitious plans for what I am going to accomplish over the winter, but then, it's cold!

We’ve had a dramatic shift in temperature in west TN as well…. 25 at night! Down from the 50s. Highs in the 40s after highs of 60/70. Brrrrr 🥶 but it is lovely to use the wood stove once again!

But how cold was it ? Including wind chill..some have no idea..inquiring minds😊

I know the change of weather came on quick, but you definitely had a beautiful fall. We also deal with lost of cold wind.
Thanks for all your videos.

I also didn't get my pots done and now they are frozen solid. I'm going to try and drill some holes to get my greens in, then maybe water them in. I'll see how it works.

Which dryer sheets do you use to keep mice out? I have tried lots of things, including peppermint spray, and am still having issues with them in my garage. Willing to try anything that might help. 😅

Erin Thanks I already looked him up. I put it on my wish list.

I usually aim to be completely done outside by the end of October. Does not always happen but it is usually the plan. I am not a fan of the cold. I would hibernate until spring if I could.

I LOVE the container with the greens, pine cones and grapevine hoops in it ! Doggos look so happy. We, too, are hiding in the warmth indoors here in Michigan.

I really like the grapevine loops. Looking forward to seeing it lit. Stay warm.

I think we all got a little spoil with the weather ,it went from nice fall I to winter am from Ontario Canada and we just got dump on with snow in 2 days am not ready for it. Great video thank you I always watch with my cup of coffee in the morning

Erin we are 8a NC. It was 75 on Thursday and on Friday 50 with nights in the 20s. No time for our plants to go dormant. Tomorrow night we are at 17. Daytime temps in the 40s for the rest of the week. This is January weather for us. I feel your pain. Fortunately our pots aren’t frozen and I was able to do Christmas planters yesterday. I always look forward to your Christmas arrangements. 😊🎄

Love the pups! Too cute. Stay warm!

I love the grapevine - I think it will be cool- a big star on top??

Ps- you are looking good too!!

Those grapevine rings are very cool! That wind justs makes me shiver. Get inside! 🥶

I feel the same way. I’m really not a coat,glove,scarf,boot,hat just to step outside lover. It’s a winter weather reality blast! Zone 6B/7A New York.

We got our first snow today after multiple nights in the teens… and the wind really makes it very cold! stay warm!

Dorothy and Magnus/Darwin are adorable. It sounded cold in this video! I am in the south and we are still in the upper 70's in December. We might be skipping winter this year.

That wind is no joke. I grew up in Wisconsin but haven't lived there for two and a half decades and I still can feel that wind and how cold it is watching the video. The only way I'd be happy out there is if I had the kind of fur coat the dogs have lol.

we in Otter Tail County MN went from 40-s early last week to single digits on the weekend. We've had a -6 overnight. I left Mequon 24 years ago because we didn't get much snow anymore ... ha! I didn't get all my containers emptied either .... and my potted saffron is still out there .....

So day two. Fell asleep. I love the pot even if it’s not finished. It’s needs that dimension for the large scaled pot.

Erin,Could you put a grow light in the garage set on 6hr. To help plants start the process. I’m trying with my lemon tree. But now it’s back in my office because it got to cold