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May 12, 2018

How to Keep Plants in a Garden Storage Shed Over Winter

A garden storage shed is not only perfect for storing your gardening equipment, but it can also provide much-needed shelter for your plants that can’t survive the freezing temperatures of winter. Read on for some helpful tips on how to store plants in your shed to keep them alive until next spring. If you are looking to purchase a quality garden shed to help store your plants over the winter, contact Classic Buildings today.

garden storage shed

How to Keep Plants in a Garden Storage Shed Over Winter

Winter temperatures and conditions can be especially hard on plants. There are, however, a number of steps that you can take to protect your plants from the rigors of winter. Moving them to a greenhouse is the optimal solution, but if you don’t have a greenhouse, you can use your garden shed as a suitable alternative by following a few helpful tips.

Know Your Planting Zone

Knowing what planting zone you live in will help you to determine which plants are more likely to flourish in your area. Not all plants can survive a Missouri winter. Missouri is blessed with 6 different planting zones! To find out which planting zone you live in, click here. Click here for planting calendars for the main locations in Missouri.

 

plant hardiness zones
Source: Pinterest from This Old House

Know Your Plants

Less hardy or exotic plants such as fuchsia have little or no chance of making it through a cold Missouri winter. There are different levels of hardiness when it comes to plants. The following is a list of terms that are used to gauge the hardiness of plants:

  • Hardy Plant: One that can survive 5 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Frost Hardy Plant: One that can survive 23 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Half Hardy Plant: One that can survive 32 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Tender Plant: One that will not survive below 41 degrees Fahrenheit

Most plants are labelled when you purchase them with care instructions as well as information about their hardiness. If you are unsure, you can look up your plant on the Internet to find out what level of hardiness it has and how to properly care for it. Here is a great site for getting plant care guides.

fuchsia
By Gold Bernard [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Which Plants Need Shed Storage Over Winter

The general rule of thumb is that your plant should be hardy to two zones colder than your USDA Hardiness Zone. Having said that, you may find that some plants will be able to withstand colder temperatures than they are supposed to and others are not as hardy as they are rated. Sometimes you will find that it is a matter of trial and error. If your forecast is for unusually colder temperatures than normal, you may want to bring in the plants that you have otherwise stored in your shed into your home temporarily.
The following is a guide to the type of shed that is best suited for the different types of plants:

  • Hardy Plants: May not need to be brought inside. If the temperatures are much lower than 5 degrees Fahrenheit, then bring them into a shed.
  • Frost Hardy Plants: Store them in a corner of an un-insulated shed.
  • Half Hardy Plant: Store them in an insulated shed.
  • Tender Plant: Store them in your home.

potted plant

How to Prepare Your Plants for Wintering in Your Garden Shed

  • Step 1: Dig up your plant at the of the summer before the first frost is expected.
  • Step 2: Carefully place the plant in a pot, large enough to accommodate the entire root ball with some extra space for compost to surround it.
  • Step 3: If your plant is already potted, then you can skip steps 1 and 2.
  • Step 4: Remove any dying or already dead plant materials such as leaves or blooms.
  • Step 5: Check for and remove any insects such as aphids or caterpillars. You may want to spray your plant with a non-toxic, environmentally friendly pesticide.
aphid
Photo by WikiPedant at Wikimedia Commons [Attribution or CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
  • Step 6: Trim the plant back to about 4 – 8 inches in height.
  • Step 7: Place your plants in the corner of your garden shed (no matter which type of plant you are storing, the corners of your shed are the best location as they are protected by 2 walls). An unheated garden shed can moderate outdoor temperatures and help your plants survive the winter.
  • Step 8: Once spring arrives, begin to water plants regularly to bring them out of their dormant state and encourage them to begin to grow again. You should also apply a good liquid or dry fertilizer as well.

 

The following video helps you determine which plants are best to keep where during the winter. As explained, some plants are better kept in a colder spot such as a garage or shed and not in your house during the winter months.

Looking for a Garden Shed? Take a Look at these Fabulous Designs

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Why Choose a Classic Buildings Garden Shed?

Classic Buildings gardens sheds are built with quality Amish craftsmanship from the best of materials.  The entire process of manufacturing, showroom, sales, paperwork, delivery, and installation is all handled by Classic Buildings employees. We never outsource any portion of the process as some companies do. You can be confident that you are always dealing directly with one of our own staff. When you contact any of our locations, you will be able to talk to the same person, Monday through Saturday. All of our buildings:

  • have the choice of metal and shingle roofs for the same price
  • are built using the same process as for building a home
  • have 16-inch center studs
  • are painted with the same paint that is manufactured for extreme durability and was originally designed for outside barn walls
  • have new entrance ramps that are not permanent and are lightweight enough that you can easily pick them up and store them in the shed
  • have ridge vent ventilation which is standard on all buildings and you don’t have to pay extra for it
  • have heavy duty standard door handles which indicate how much better built the sheds are
  • have the option of being upgraded to 50 Advantech flooring
  • have a diamond tread plate

We will deliver your shed to you for free, up to 30 miles from any of our showroom locations. Watch the following video to find out what is involved in our delivery process.

Garden Sheds You Can Afford

Missouri Home Shows

Purchasing a garden shed doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, and you don’t need to wait until you have enough money saved to buy one. Contact Classic Buildings today and find out how easy it is to rent to own your own beautiful garden shed or visit the location nearest to you. We provide financing and most people can even qualify for $0 money down.

Remember, before buying a shed you should be aware of the shed permit requirements of your municipality. Sometimes permit requirements depend on the size of your shed.

Classic Buildings has locations throughout the Midwest, including various Missouri cities (St. Louis, Arnold, Columbia, St. Charles, Rolla, Linn, Springfield, Jefferson City, Kansas City, and Washington Missouri). We are located in Swansea, Illinois and Kansas and deliver throughout the Midwest, and, in some cases, nationwide!

If you would like to take a look at Classic Buildings’ storage sheds, check out our brochure, or visit one of our locations to see our sheds firsthand! 

“Your company produces such a quality storage building! You can tell that quality went into it because quality just shines through it. Even the delivery was a class act. All of you do a great job.” – Rick Franklin
 Read more testimonials here!

Sources:
What is a Hardy Plant?
How To Keep Outdoor Plants Alive Through Winter
Overwintering Potted Plants

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