How to over winter a tiny lilac?

Mmc10107067
by Mmc10107067

Is it best to plant this ‘baby’ lilac in the ground, keep it in the planter outside or do I need to bring it in out of the cold?We are in zone 7.

  8 answers
  • Ann Ann on Oct 28, 2018

    you can try this??!! take a clean empty gallon plastic milk jug-cut out the bottom and place over the lilac-leave the cap on-some days when really warm (and zone 7 gets them) remove cap to let extra moisture out-then replace cap-makes a little green house-be sure to anchor jug so than wind can't take it away

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Oct 28, 2018

    Check with your nursery.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Oct 28, 2018

    Needs to be in ground,the fall is time to plant,lilacs are cold hardy if you want to protect it some cover it with a pile of leaves after it starts to reach freezing temps They actually need the change of seasons to get big strong & stay healthy never put plastic over plants in cold weather it actually intensifies cold & if it's touching plants will burn them. if you want to cover plants for frost protection use plain white sheets but remove them during the day before sun hits them.

  • Eve Eve on Oct 29, 2018

    the pot needs wrapping in bubble wrap- its the soil that will freeze and kill the plant- added precaution is fleece around the plant but definitely Bubble wrap well (two or three times around).

  • Virgi S Virgi S on Oct 29, 2018

    Are you sure that's a lilac? They like cooler weather which is why they aren't as outstanding in the south.

  • Judy Judy on Oct 29, 2018

    I live in Canada...put your plan right in the ground....do not leave on the pot and put in ground.....put in sheltered spot....mulch with leaves or the mulch you buy. plant my tender young ones near the house on the east side....it is more sheltered by trees and does not get the drying winter winds as much....also heat does escape through cement basement walls and the ground does not freeze as fast or as hard. Also is you want to protect it from rabbits you can build a small circle from chicken wire surrounding it,,,,will help keep mulch in place.

  • Barb Smith Barb Smith on Oct 30, 2018

    I live in North Carolina zone 7b and I have a lilac that I bought from Sam’s Club (it just looked like a stick when I bought it) that I planted in a pot. I left it in the pot over the winter, I didn’t do anything to winterize it and it did not die. Attached is what it looks like right now.

  • Claude Claude on Nov 02, 2018

    Unless you have seen the plant bloom and are sure it’s a lilac...or it’s a specific variety for the south. The leaves are heart shaped. The first photo is a French cut lilac w tiny leaves and delicate blooms and the second leaf is a standard lilac. Maybe the photo isn’t large enough but the leaves on your plant don’t seem the same. Nevertheless, plant your baby in the ground. Cover it with leaves and a breathable basket like wicker. It won’t wake up until late spring...but it NEEDS chill hours to bloom...mine took 4 years to bloom..