BRRR! 🥶 Adding protection for overwintering plants

[@RedCoin91]

Thanks a lot for the 'celsius' detail in the beginning! I'm always lost with Fahrenheit. Good night :)

[@Lea-zf7lm]

Same here, lol. Celsius makes so much more sense.

[@susans1679]

Canada switched to celsius in 1975. It took a bit to get used to but now Fahrenheit is impossible for me. Probably the difference between a 24 yo brain and a 73 yo one, lol!

[@shadesofidaho]

The cold is starting to hit here too. We also had lots of snow and now most has melted. Strange winter. I have a house full of house plants so I get to garden year round.

[@CA-rx9ze]

About a foot and a half of snow yesterday. Ran the snowblower and shoveled out. So happy to see garden videos and sip hot chocolate.

[@DianeZerbonia]

Detritus, thank you for using that word. Lol. I use that word once in a while, and my husband says no one uses that word in everyday usage. I'm going to show him this video😂. Thanks for the winter garden video. Hope your lips didn't get frostbite.

[@dglemmer1]

I’m still chuckling about your lips that didn’t work anymore! I sooo know that affliction from being outside when it’s cold! 😂 I noticed your Magical Touch blooming in the kitchen! I have to say no video or photo really captures how beautiful it is! Mine is blooming now too. I appreciate you walking us through and showing us how you are adding protection and watering/caring for those things you are overwintering inside the shed in your garage. I’m super interested in learning about this because I live in a Zone 3 and would like to try doing this with some of my plants. As always, get jazzed when I see you have posted a video! Thanks!

[@jack6964]

You inspire us even in the dead of winter ❄️

[@christinetrewin9717]

During winter cold ,on sunny cold days I rush out and as quick as possible do one thing. I realized that the fallen hydrangea leaves were going mushy on top of the blooms of my Hellebores. So out went with trug and gloves to scoop them up , now my blooms are free and visible. Beautiful and I’m refreshed 😄👩‍🌾🇫🇷❤️💋

[@Joy-sk2hf]

We watch your posts and enjoy all of them. I’m hoping that you can show the viewers your staghorn fern care during the winter. We followed your steps for transplanting a staghorn fern. Ours did great during the summer, but now it’s inside. It gets watered in the shower when it’s dry, it lives in an east window area, and some leaves look good. Some do not. Thank you for your advice and information.

[@flatcreek4665]

Darwin has sure shot up! Bet he is loving the cold weather!

[@alexandramooney9862]

I thought his name was Magnus? I must've missed something

[@carlas872]

@@alexandramooney9862 They changed it. Darwin was a better fit. Either way, he's adorable!

[@alexandramooney9862]

@carlas872 absolutely

[@susans1679]

-8°C in Toronto today. No snow but cold with the wind chill! Sprinkled water on my winter sowing and tended to some seedlings in the basement (I do pansies at the end of December so that they are a good size for Easter.) Also some perennial seeds. And of course ordered more seeds!! Also had a bag of hyacinth bulbs and crocus in the basement mini fridge. Potted those up and put back in fridge to develop their roots.

[@bc4823]

Balmy Toronto compared to Ottawa 😅

[@8helenjhouston8]

Darwin is such a helping friend!

[@ephemeraphilesbytomi]

Watching you work is garden therapy for me since we got almost a foot of snow in a 24-hour period.

[@karlaplatt5538]

Erin your puppy was cracking me up. I'm not sure if you realized, but he was the culprit who was taking the dryer sheets out of the container box and may have partaken some of your wood shavings (see 5.42 time point).🤔

[@cristinetorralba1478]

i am with you about doing some yard work in this weather lol although I would not clean up the leaves etc to protect the little critters sheltering under the leaves .

[@paulacothren3591]

Oh my word. 14 degrees. I can't even imagine how tough that is, especially bone-chillin'!

[@susanskinner8855]

Dead hedge? When was that started? Love the idea! Also have watched a KZbin from England where they chop down hedges (not fully cut off, but enough for the branches to lay down) and allow new growth which will for a very dense hedge - will be trying your idea and theirs. Cabin fever….the fever is real !!

[@ginnysulya9805]

You are my hero Erin! I either run for the car or sit in the chair by the window as the windchill here in the Finger Lakes of NY is says feels like 7 degrees! We have a dusting of 2-3 inches of snow that has made some foot high drifts! Thanks for toughing it out to make this video!

[@ladikmk]

It has been so cold here too, and snowed substantial amounts twice now with more accumulation than we had all last Winter. I don't know how you do it Erin - you work outside in Winter without a hat? I don't leave the interior of my house without it lol. Tree pruning/thinning branches is on my list for February - Lilacs and Jane Magnolia for sure. Boxwoods need a clip too. Stay warm and be well. Thanks for sharing. PS Pup is getting to be a big(ger) boy. He's a beautiful dog.

[@benjaminl.dallaire9890]

Hey Erin, Watching go out in the cold to do stuff has inspired me. I have to prune my espaliered toba hawthorn and now is the time to do it however, it’s -14 degrees Celsius here so I’ll wait until it warms up a bit. LOL. We didn’t have snow coverage over Christmas and it rained between Christmas and New Years. (I’m in USDA zone 4) so I was getting worried for my garden - no snow to insulate the plants. On Jan 2nd it started to snow and has snowed nearly every day since. Yay! Not too deep, but enough to protect my plants. I’ll be out soon to prune my espalier - once it goes above -10, that is. Thanks for your encouragement!

[@bonniejackson7476]

Hi Erin I’m so glad you mentioned cabin fever. It is real. NC 8a here. Our high is 40 this week and low is 20. Very cold for my part of NC but yesterday I had to go outside or be crazy. Also the wind has been vicious here. I have a cold frame so a place to seed plants as we add additional heat when needed. Thanks for encouraging us all.😊

[@cindybohl9593]

The puppy has really grown! So cute! I need to get out and prune in my garden. Problem is we have nine inches of snow on the ground right now.

[@chrisrfan]

Today I repotted four Christmas cactus plants! Personally I can’t stand them but people giving them to me as gifts! Had to get my hands in some kind of dirt! Winter sowing will be next week!

[@brendanawesomeness]

Haha same! I don’t like them, but people love giving them to me

[@carolowings6033]

Same here. I just don't want them. Lol

[@elmariedstra5631]

Great job!! I am so ready for spring!!! Can’t wait to see your garden and all its beauty!!!

[@elisbethfinos6162]

We add Bounce sheets to the deck boxes where our outdoor cushions are stored. Works a treat. Going to be 19 below zero C this Wed. 🥶😱

[@angelakading8497]

Great idea for mice is mix half and half baking soda and Jiffy cornbread mix Mice can’t get rid of gas so…… think Coke and Mentos! Working great for me!

[@donnas3148]

It was 10F here this morning in Boston. We got the outdoor Christmas decorations put away. That was enough for today. Now i am planning out my winter sowing and bulb planting.

[@jillsimpson8716]

You’re a trooper! Can’t wait to see what the next season has in store! Thank you again for bringing us along!

[@betsymaltby6788]

The only thing I do out in the garden when it's this cold is fill the bird feeders. So windy here today that my hydrangea blooms are blowing around the yard like tumbleweeds...

[@gaylschubert5700]

You are a trooper. I looked out the window longingly all day but was too wimpy to brave 35°

[@Mortallifeonearth]

Happy Nee Year, Erin! Love love love your channel, your humour and of course the amazing garden knowledge 🙌🏽I noticed you have potted boxwoods in with the overwintering plants. We’re in zone 6 here in Southern Ontario, Canada. A few years ago a neighbour was giving away his in ground (~20 yr old ) boxwood bushes. I snapped them up for a topiary project- which I promptly put in large planters. I burlap the topiaries and wrap bubble wrap around the base. This year I only put leaf (plastic)bags around the pots and am sick with worry that I’ll lose them. Last few winters were warmer than this winter has been so I’m praying hard. Anyway just wanted to share with you about boxwoods and how I’ve protected them in pots. Thanks again for sharing your garden expertise with us!

[@kasiacholewinska]

Erin, you rock! Winter jobs in freezing cold and recording them for us 💪 thanks for taking us along! My Fiona jasmine is in the ground (zone 7), looks green so far but we haven’t got below -7 C so far. Looking great by the way! Happy gardening!

[@mistygeller3193]

I sooo understand the feeling of being cooped up and needing to do something outside this time of year… then your fingers and your face start to freeze up, and my nose starts running 😂 I’m in 5a, northern lower Michigan…. brrrrr 🥶

[@aalejardin]

And I was dithering about whether to go out to try to do a few things tomorrow when the high is supposed to be 22F here in the Lower Hudson Valley! You put us to shame!

[@prana2000]

I'm glad you addressed the rodent issue, because that's the first thing I thought of when I saw that bag of straw! That was the one and only time I had mice in the shed. Never using straw again! They're were so hard to get rid of!

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

I’ve had to use frost clothe over some borderline pots/plants here in zone 8, GA it’s 36* at 1:40 in the afternoon - 20’s at night!

[@MySaskGarden]

I’m a believer in dryer sheets, too! We always kept them in our camping trailer for winter storage.

[@adz5bneweng589]

Hi Erin, for those cold days...get yoursrlf some "Hot Hands". Shake them about 10 minutes b4 you go out. Stick them into the palms of your winter Cool Jobs gloves. (Close to the base of your fingers.) Really works and extends my ability to work outside. Balaclava, or a hat that also covers my ears, really helps too. I'm in z5b/6a Massachusetts, and it's also 14 degrees here. No snow on the ground makes me worry for my gardens.

[@Thingys-Jill]

May I suggest another way to protect those more fragile plants? Get a cardboard moving boc. If you're concerned that's not enough protectio get some 1/2" garage door insulation (styrofoam sheets) and put it inside the bottom and sides of the box (you'll reuse it every year). Put the plant in and call it done. The cardboard is insulation itself and much better than the plastic box. You can tape up the flaps of the box if you need it taller. Line the box with a plastic bag if you're worried about water getting the cardboard wet. You'd fit a couple more small plants in it if Darwin's nose wasn't in the box! I hope your New Year is going well so far. Stay warm!

[@agneslazarenko2653]

I appreciate the temperature in Celsius. It did not sound as absulutely dire when you just gave it in F

[@dindyuhl2727]

Ouch...back braking work in frigid digits. Watching you bend over..OY my back! Thanks for taking one for the team Erin! GET INSIDE!

[@nancymaier4289]

Oh my! You will not catch me out in this weather gardenng. Your mouth was frozen.

[@venusgarden959]

Absolutely amazing🌹🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤❤

[@mardisteffenhagen]

It was almost 60 yesterday and I got to go out and weed 😳 felt so good. !!!

[@conniegurley6872]

Wow Darwin is getting larger than life

[@dustyflats3832]

I ran out of straw and the wind earlier blew some off. Will see if I can rake up some leaves as future forecast looks below zero at night through January. No snow is a problem. Of course it’s WI and we never know.

[@victoria76116]

I can feel how cold it is there ❤❤❤ watching from Toronto Ontario Canada

[@neldahargo29]

cut strips of dryer sheets wrapped around tulip bulbs seem to help, too.

[@greatlakescanary3237]

That's how I winter garden, 15 minutes a day if it is "nice". It does add up.

[@Flowers4Everyone]

Darwin fka Magnus is growing so big and handsome! I must say that being zone 5/6 you probably don't have to put your bulbs in the fridge, is that correct?

[@kimpaynter]

Darwin fits him perfect. How much does he weigh now? Your Newfoundlands are just so precious.❤❤❤❤ how do you wear jeans in that cold? I hope you have longjohns on.

[@carlas872]

Your plants look great in the garage! I have a little heater in our attached garage to try and keep the dahlias from freezing. Of course, I think I've ordered enough new ones to replace the existing if they don't make it 😜 Would love to know if you are joining in on the crazy dahlia tuber sales and which ones you're after. Darwin is getting so big! Thank you for the info on pruning trees.

[@32dras]

Negative 10°C is pretty decent cold, we went negative 7°C so far this winter, still no snow like past few winters but this winter is much colder then last one. It's pain in bum to keep alive plants for higher zones but I'm safe for now, have small backyard room where keep them, it would have to go to negative 12 or lower to temp there drop below freezing point. At least bugs and pests will freeze, or at least let's hope so 😅😊

[@janetschuchter238]

Thank you for motivating me.

[@ukaly1]

We use bounce dryer sheets in our travel trailer. They do work!

[@discolemonade8794]

Thanks for the dry sheet tip! I'm battling wood rats aka pack rats who took up residence under my deck. Last summer they were stealing my garden plants and flowers! The cheeky buggers made off with a whole stand of delphinium (which I thought were poisonous) and even gnawed off ascot rainbow stems (again toxic). The war is on! Any tips to make their new home inhospitable would be appreciated. I live next to a nation forrest and just need them to relocate asap.

[@karunald]

The only way to stop mice is to literally get mouse proofing material - 1/4" hardware cloth, Xcluder pest fill, etc. and go around the outside and seal. It's actually pretty easy. Seems impossible till you start on it.

[@taylorswf23]

My baby is 3 weeks old and it’s below freezing outside but I’m already catching the gardening bug for this year 🦠💚 I scratched the itch a little by ordering my (minimal) veggie seeds yesterday but… I can’t wait for spring 🌱🌷

[@RedCoin91]

Congratulations😊 Mine will be 4 months old on sunday, I Hope having time enough to garden this year 😅 Not always easy with babies

[@kasiacholewinska]

Congrats to both of you! It’s actually easier with the little one, it sleeps most of the time, at least mine did ;-) Clearly remember those precious moments when you can show them first spring flowers, experience nature, bird song.. lovely spring ahead of you! Good luck and happy gardening!

[@RedCoin91]

@@kasiacholewinska Thank you! My daugther Will be 4 in march. In Remember planting bulbs with her and Trees, she would jump into the hole and play with the dirt, pulling out Weeds like mom did. She was 2. Precious memories indeed 🙂

[@stacylesniewski107]

Thank you for the inspiration, Erin! Im sorry id its already been asked, but....have you considered (or previously mentioned) using a space heater in the plant portion of garage to take the edge off the cold?

[@63cebuflip]

Hello just watched your video, that sunshine ligustrum is super hardy and also if you try florida sunshine illicium that is also very hardy the leaves will not drop even we had below 10 degrees. I live in North East Mississippi and we had some very cold weather here. Now some of my sunshine ligustrum is over 6 ft. between our neighbor for privacy. My soft caress mahonia did die back to the ground when our temp. drop down to the teens even just for a few days but it came back.

[@SunnyBlueSkyDay]

Frozen lips makes mouth stop working! ❄️🌱✨

[@carolynvenema2264]

I put a dryer sheet in my mailbox..no more ants in my mail!

[@JuliaHeinze-d4m]

It worked! No more AI voices!!! Thx! 😀

[@helenjackson2971]

I’m so glad I live in zone 10!!!😄

[@tinah8065]

Brrr it is cold! I cleaned up dog poop yesterday, does that count as my garden job!?! 😂 Do you have any recommendations for local area (I’m in Grafton) landscapers? We have a new build lot (about 1 acre) with slopes, underground utilities, rain routing, need quality soil, space planning for patio/driveway/walkways….all the stuff…. This sounds like I need a full on landscape architect? Right? Any tips/advice on how to start to tackle this?

[@Fabdanc]

We had our first freeze in 350 days on 1/6... it has me over here wondering is this our 10 days of winter? And does that mean the blazing heat of summer is going to come sooner?!

[@alexandramooney9862]

Dryer sheets do work the more scented the better

[@naturegirl7777]

...adrenaline kicks in, at the striving to keep up appearances -- even in bitter cold. As long as I keep moving, I'm good, but that inevitable frozen jaw/mouth thingey?!! -- happens every time! I'm amazed how all your snow is gone! It was quite a winter wonderland not too long ago. (We got our turn yesterday with 5" of snow; high wind gusts and bitter cold.) [MD, now 7a] 🥶 👩🏼‍🌾💚 =^..^=

[@lorraineedmond5921]

Is your garage completely unheated or heated to some minimum?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@lorraineedmond5921 no heat at all.

[@lorraineedmond5921]

@@TheImpatientGardenerThanks, that is so encouraging. We are in 8b and doin* a ridiculous amount of container shuffling prior to (and after) cold spells. I like your approach so much better!

[@bettyboop1524]

KY ice, snow and freezing temps, lost a beautiful Hydrangea standard yesterday due to ice. 😢 Happy 2025

[@janettefisher256]

It’s winter here now too , way too much snow ❄️. When did you change your puppy’s name ?

[@ryderview1492]

Were you hit with the polar vortex last weekend? We had that last year and got to -26C with the windchill. Normally we are around -10C in winter. This winter I haven’t even had a little frost. The lowest it has gotten is 1.2C. Today and yesterday it was 8C and sunny! Very nice, but afraid as to what it will do to the plants. I have bulbs coming up and just heard a toad croaking. Not good.

[@ryderview1492]

Sorry, I should have said I am in Southern BC and about 220 metres up on a mountain.

[@terrivance8750]

Brrrrr!!! 😬

[@beckiepruder3402]

Hi Erin, You’ve lost weight and look amazing! What’s your secret? Love watching your videos 🇨🇦🌲

[@patriciacole8773]

I used peppermint oil and no kidding it actually seemed to attract mice. Yuck!

[@butterflysrose]

When did Magnus become Darwin? Or is that just a nickname?😂

[@angieagentlesoul]

Lord, women, put a hat on! lol.

[@Peoniesandpinks]

Did you just call the pup Darwin? Why did I think it was magnus

[@JuliaHeinze-d4m]

Dear Erin, could you please try to delete the feature that automatically adds an AI translation when someone opens your video in Germany (and probably other non English-speaking countries)? I enjoy watching your content, but it is impossible to do so with an artificial voice instead of yours. Unfortunately, the user can't opt out of this feature. Thank you and best wishes for the New (garden) Year!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@JuliaHeinze-d4m thank you for letting me know! Let me see if I can change that asap! Really appreciate the heads up.

[@pujanpatel9789]

You need a hat!

[@kim8641]

finally just going to ask... what have you changed to loose weight? You look good, and assume you feel great !

[@lisagreen7499]

Yes! I been wondering that too! Erin… you look great not that you didn’t before!

[@susannewlove2115]

Great motivation! Love the variety of content. Dryer sheets do help! We are all wondering what your spring is bringing….hoping it is all good stuff!

[@brendagodfrey5819]

Have you lost weight? You’re looking good.