How to Put Plants Up for the Winter

Move all of your hardy container plants into an unheated garage, basement or crawlspace once the weather starts to freeze. Check the plants throughout the winter. If the soil is too dry, water them until the water leaks out of the bottom of the container.

Wait until the frost damages the growth on your plants that aren't hardy through your winters, such as canna and elephant ear. Cut the plant back to the ground with the pruners.

Dig up any bulbs or tubers of the non-hardy plants and place rinse them off with water to remove any dirt. Avoid cutting any roots if you can.

Set the tubers and bulbs out to air dry in a cool place, like a garage or basement.

Fill a cardboard box with peat moss and tuck the tubers and bulbs into the peat moss. Place the box in an area that is 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, like a basement or crawlspace. Check the bulbs every month for a sign of mold. Throw away moldy bulbs and add a 2 to 3 tsp. of water to shriveled tubers so they fill out.