Preparing Perennials for Cold Canadian Winters

In Canada, tender perennials like geraniums, impatiens, and gerbera need to be kept alive with good winter protection — otherwise they become one-hit wonders. To overwinter your tender perennial plants during Canada’s cold winter months, follow these steps:

1. Dig up the roots or entire plant.

   
   



2. Bring them indoors to a nonfreezing spot for the next few months (where they will become dormant or semidormant houseplants).

   
   



3. Pot the plants in any good soil, and grow them in a cool (5°C-10°C, or 40°F-50°F) and bright area.

   
   



4. Keep them barely moist through the winter, just keeping them alive.

   
   



5. Once replanted in the spring, they’ll spring back to life with the help of warmer temperatures and brighter light.

   
   

You can also trim and prune your perennials and use mulch to protect them through the winter.

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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/preparing-perennials-for-cold-canadian-winters.html