How much longer should I water my perennials?

I live in northern Wisconsin, and I have two potted perennials (lilies and mums). I'm wondering if I should water them throughout the winter, because once the soil freezes, pouring water on them will be kind of futile. Even if the soil could absorb water, when it's 20 below 0 the water will freeze before it can sink in. Or should I keep them inside?

How much longer should I water my perennials?
Either plant them in the ground now and cover with mulch when the ground starts to freeze, or bury them in leaves, straw or compost in an insulated box in the garage.



Continue to water until the ground is hard frozen if you don't get the usual fall rains and you plant them outdoors. Water once a month if you do the sink the pots thing -- plants do lose water in the winter, just like wet laundry will freezedry on a clothesline outdoors in the winter.
Reply:I think you can cut back on watering now that fall is here, maybe just enough water tho yo keep the mums looking good for a few more weeks,You could then plant them in the ground, or put in a garage, and plant in ground in spring.
Reply:I would transplant them into the ground right now and mulch real well for the winter. They are perennials and should come back in the spring. I have better luck with them winterizing then trying to keep them growing inside during the winter.
Reply:During the winter, soil dries out just as much as it does in the summer. I would think that the snow %26amp; ice would give them enough moisture to survive?

Maybe I am not the right one to answer this because I get very little snow %26amp; ice and my mums/lilies are planted in the ground...so they did well.
Reply:Once the foliage dies off and turns brown, you can stop watering both the lilies and the mums. If the pots are weather proof and can sit out over the winter without bursting, leave the plants in them outside.



Both lilies and mums are perennial in nature so they should grow back on their own for you in the spring. Once spring arrives, you'll probably want to re-pot the plants with fresh potting soil to insure another full season of bloom.



*~Enjoy~*
Reply:Once the plants die back they shouldn't need watering again. We would be more concerned about the plants in pots overwintering in your area. You should either plant them and mulch over them or bring them inside, even into an unheated garage over the winter.



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Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Reply:Inside, you will need sunlight from a south facing window.



Outside, they will die down to the soil line after the weather gets colder. You will need to protect the roots from freezing, you can put them in a shed, garage, storage room of some sort. You can throw an old rug or quilt over them until next spring.



After your last spring frost, bring them out and start watering them again. After a couple of week or so, you can start a fertilizing schedule with liquid fertilizer.



Enjoy your pretty plants, and happy gardening to you.
Reply:I winter water my gardens and small trees and shrubs to help prevent winter kill here in N Dakota. I bury some of my potted perennials in the compost pile for the winter. This would probably work in your instance. RScott

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