As the temperature dips, some new gardeners are wondering which plants should be brought inside. The answer is pretty simple. Bring inside any plants that are not able to withstand winter in your garden zone. On the Lower Mainland, your USDA garden zone is probably 8a or 8b, and 7a or 7b if you are more inland. When should you bring them inside? Right now, as our night time temperatures are below 10 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Annuals

There are some annuals that you can bring inside to over-winter, and then replant them in the spring. A good example of this is geraniums. You can take the plant out of its outside planter, shake off the dirt and just put them bare root in a plastic bin in the basement or garage where it’s cool but will stay above freezing. Plants like this will go dormant for the winter.

Perennials

Any perennials that cannot survive a freeze need to come inside. An example might be some succulents like aloe that lived happily on your patio all summer. They need to come inside now and live in south or west window until spring.

Bulbs, Rhizomes, and Corms

Some of those that cannot take our winter in southern British Columbia--like dahlias—need to be dug up and stored inside until next year. If you leave them in the ground, then most or all will die over the winter.

There are few exceptions to this rule. Some people have slightly warmer microclimates in their yards in sheltered areas, and with a lot of mulch, and perhaps some Christmas lights, some of these plants will survive the winter. However, be forewarned that “pushing zones” or trying to keep plants outside that were not intended for your climate is a risky business.

You are always welcome to come by and visit our store in Surrey to talk to us about your plants and preparations for winter.

Art Knapp has 15 locations across British Columbia and is well known as the go-to garden centre for everything garden-related. Art Knapp, himself, began the business in the 1940's, and now, 80 years later, you can find more than he ever dreamed of in our stores. Come and see us on King George Boulevard in Surrey.

If you have any questions about this article or want to talk to us about gardening, just give us a call at (604) 596-9201.