I live in mid-south Indiana, Zone 6a. All of my outdoor container shrubs get dug into the ground (burying the whole pot, up to the rim) and then either mulched heavily or covered with a LOT of leaves. I do not have to provide supplemental water since the rain can reach them. This year, since I recently moved, I have available an outdoor shed that I will be using to overwinter my potted shrubs. The shed is old and has a dirt floor, so I will be digging the pots in as usual, not mulching, and I expect to have to water occasionally since they will be "indoors".

How cold will your garage be? If it stays in the 32°-45° range all winter, you should be able to leave the pot in there without any extra protection. You will probably have to water occasionally. If your garage stays warmer than 45°, your lilac may not stay dormant (that's about the temperature cutoff, isn't it? Anyone?), and not staying dormant is not good, especially if it's in a dark garage with no sunlight. If your garage gets colder than 20° or so, you will probably want to insulate the pot somehow to protect the roots (insulate the whole pot - don't just put some straw on top).

Illstep-

Thank you for your response. I am not completely sure about the temperature range of my garage during the winter. I know sometimes we have warm spells but can't imagine it would warm up over 45 degrees, maybe it would but not sure how extended it would be. If I'm unsure should I just water it once in awhile? How often would this be? Maybe my sister will get her location picked and just bury it. If that is the case, should it just be buried in the ground without any soil amending since it won't be growing, plant as usual? Thanks again.

Julyguy

I kept a Miss Kim lilac in a pot for five years over central Indiana winters before finally planting it. No special mulching or anything. They're pretty tough, but you could put it in a protected location and insulate the pot if you're worried. Most anything hardy to zone 3 will do fine in pots in this area, I have found.

Hi and thank you.

I looked my hardy zone up and it is 5b/6a. So insulating the pot could be putting it in the ground, putting mulch or straw around it, etc. I could put it on the deck under the deck table which would protect it, but then it would not get any rain or the critters like squirrels, rabbits, might munch on them.

For me the easiest way to overwinter (zone appropriate) plants in pots is just to bury the pot somewhere in the yard out of the way and toss some mulch around it. If you are afraid of critters munching then surround it with a cage of hardware coth or chicken wire. The ground insulates it, the air circulates, and mother nature takes care of any watering needs. Then in the spring just lift the pot and carry on.

I do the same as cearbhaill.

the only caveat to burying it in the ground.. is if you have bad draining clay .... and the hole ends up accumulating water .. drowning the roots ... either in winter.. or early spring ...

i had a lilac sucker in ONE INCH of used media... in a gallon pot.. for 3 years ... totally ignored it in my cold z5 MI ... couldnt kill it ...

the only way to kill it.. might be to love it to death .... imo forget the garage ... too much love ...

put it against the foundation on the north side of the house.. no sun ... and tip it over ... even better if it gets buried in snow ...

ken

Ok, thank you all for your excellent suggestions! I appreciate it. I have an idea about putting it in an enclosed chicken wire area where my Clamatus vine is, just place it on the ground in there and cover it with loads of leaves along with the Clamatus like I do every year. Would this be feasible? Thanks much!

i would consider the lilac much hardier than a clem ... so it sounds like a good idea to me .... i would only use the leave to the extent to bury the pot;.... so winter sun.. doesnt heat the pot in mid winter ... the plant itself.. should be not buried all that much ... the key is.. get it dormant and KEEP IT dormant ... and with pots.. its a matter of insuring the roots dont warm.. mid winter.. and the plant comes out of dormancy .. and then it gets cold again ....

holding over pots .... is holding over pots ... it shouldnt really matter what zone appropriate plant is in the pot .... the rules should not vary all that much .. short of zone pushing and truly exotic plants .. and lilac is not exotic ... lol

is a sucker still a sucker.. once you have removed it from the mother plant???

dont limit your search for info ... based on it being a sucker ... imo.. its now a lilac ... if you see the difference ... dont focus on the wrong descriptive word ...

ken

Ken-

I put the pot in the wire enclosure but the pot is too wide that it doesn't reach the ground. It's sort of suspended and has a layer of leaves below and on top of it. Will this matter? Maybe I have too many leaves on top - approximately 12", but they are loosely placed now. Maybe they will compact after snow and ice weigh it down. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks again,

Julyguy

ok, thanks I will work on your suggestion- appreciate your help!