No sun on those pots to heat them up. Keep the roots frozen or at least uniformly cold for at least 6 weeks. Can you provide mulch that won't invite critters?

-Babka

Thank you Babka;
I have plenty of mulch - shreaded leaves, pine needles. I was thinking of piling that on top of pots after hard freeze. But what mulch wouldn't invite critters?
I was thinking of surrounding them all (pots) with chicken wire - chipmunks probably can get thru that.
There are squirrels around-digging everywhere, hiding acorns...
There is some voles around here - not where hostas will be; I am not sure they will be getting into pots-they usually 'eat' from underneath?
I have had some bunnies around but didn't see them for past couple of months. Surprisingly, they never munched on anything except dandelions, and some of garden phlox.
Rina

This post was edited by rina_ on Sun, Oct 19, 14 at 23:13

There are a lot of Canuks here on the forum. They should be able to advise you regarding the critters and how to deal with them in your area.

-Babka

Put them on the north side of a structure where there is no sun. You want them to get cold and stay cold. If possible, as Babka said, cover them. It invites rodents, though, so do that with caution.

bk

its simple: NO SUN ON BLACK POTS ...

tipped or standing .. whatever ...

i have black asphalt driveway ... kids used to horrify grandma.. running around in jan/feb in a MI winter on a sunny day ... as the pavement was warm ...

if you warm the roots of a dormant plant ... especially during some mid winter relative heat wave ... and the plants go in and out of dormancy.. they might eventually rot ...

once dormant.. the pots can even be stacked .. especially if its cold enough to freeze them solid ...

bottom line.. just hide the black part for sure ... after that.. the plants are zone appropriate ... its JUST THE BLACK ...

ken

Rina, if your snow cover is reliable, you have the best mulch possible. I lay my hostas on their sides, bait for mice and wait for snow.

Rina, I'm laying mine down on north side of house, no mulch required as we get enough snow cover for the entire U S of A! and Canada! Lol

Jo

Thank you all for tips...Rina