Can plants stay in containers year-round?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Year-round container gardening is dependent on the climate where you live and the types of plants you choose. Rosemary is a perennial that will survive our winter if protected. At the same time, the tomato does its thing and dies at the end of one season! By understanding the life cycles of the selected plants, we avoid disappointment and make informed decisions about whether to lift the plant or leave it in its container throughout the season.
Perennial Care
- Evergreens need insulation against freezing roots
- Move to sheltered areas below 20°F (-7°C)
- Water monthly during dormancy to prevent dehydration
- Prune dead growth in early spring
Annual Management
- Remove spent plants after first frost
- Sanitize containers before winter storage
- Rotate crops to different families annually
- Refresh soil completely each spring
Climate saves the day for borderline perennials. In my zone 6 garden, I keep my lavender throughout the winter in pots by wrapping them in burlap. Southern gardeners can leave citrus outdoors, but northerners must bring them inside. Learn your USDA zone and first frost date to plan your protection.
Soil health matters when reusing containers. For your annuals, replace the soil completely with fresh soil to prevent diseases from being carried over to the next crop. For your perennials, top-dress with compost each spring to refresh the life-supporting nutrients. Test your drainage annually by timing how fast (or slow) water exits the container bottoms during your annual saturation tests.
Rotate crops to avoid soil diseases in annual containers.Do not plant tomatoes where peppers grew the previous year. Skip a year and plant beans or legumes to restore nitrogen. Use permanent weatherproof tags to mark containers with the particular plant family for rapid reference.
Read the full article: 10 Essential Container Gardening Tips for Beginners
