{"id":6199,"date":"2026-02-10T09:36:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/10\/what-happens-to-plants-in-winter-and-maintenance-advice-to-support-their-needs\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T09:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:36:23","slug":"what-happens-to-plants-in-winter-and-maintenance-advice-to-support-their-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/10\/what-happens-to-plants-in-winter-and-maintenance-advice-to-support-their-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens to Plants in Winter, and Maintenance Advice to Support Their Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Unless you\u2019re in the southernmost United States, you probably experience a period of dormancy in your garden in winter. Deciduous trees and shrubs drop their leaves, herbaceous perennials dry and wither to crispy brown stalks, and even evergreens seem to stall their growth in anticipation. At first glance, dormancy might look like death for many plants, but it\u2019s really a process of survival that enables perennials to persist from one year to the next.<\/p>\n

There are two kinds of dormancy: Some plants enter endo<\/strong>dormancy, which is timed by the plant\u2019s internal clock, and others enter eco<\/strong>dormancy, which relies on environmental triggers like a sudden drop in temperature. Functionally, both processes reduce the plant\u2019s need for light and water, protect it from the stress of harsh winter conditions, and postpone growth until favorable conditions return.<\/p>\n

Transplanting and planting<\/h3>\n
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Don\u2019t fret if all your transplanting and planting was not completed by the end of fall. If the ground isn\u2019t frozen, hardy plants will take movement in stride during winter dormancy. Photo: Carol Collins<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When your garden goes dormant, it may be tempting to hang up your tools and take the season off, but don\u2019t let this unique opportunity go to waste. Winter is the best time to transplant many plants, especially trees and shrubs. Just as dormancy protects plants from feeling the effects of extreme weather, it also protects them from the stress and shock of transplanting. As long as you can get a shovel into the ground, you can transplant.<\/p>\n

Hardy new additions to the garden can also be planted any time the ground isn\u2019t frozen\u2014so long as you\u2019re careful not to move them from a house or greenhouse directly into freezing temps. Even in the harshness of winter, plants are happiest in the ground.<\/p>\n

Common Winter Woes<\/h2>\n

Dormancy is a dependable process, and most cold-hardy plants survive the winter without ever needing help, but that\u2019s not to say this season is always trouble-free. Here are the most common winter woes to look out for, and ways you can prevent them.<\/p>\n

Frost heave:<\/h3>\n
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Without an insulating layer of mulch or leaves, underground water can swell and crack soil. This is not a big deal for bare spots in the garden but devastating when it exposes root balls to the elements. Photo: Michal Ma\u0148as, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Frost heaving occurs when water freezes underground and turns to ice that pushes up from beneath the surface. The frozen soil swells and cracks, and can even lift the root balls of plants, exposing them to frigid air. Porous, loamy soils are particularly susceptible.<\/p>\n

Frost heaving can be devastating in a garden, but you can protect against it with a good layer of mulch or even leaf litter to insulate the soil. Mid- to late fall is a great time to apply it before winter sets in. Learn more about the dos and don\u2019ts of mulching here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Frost damage:<\/h3>\n
\"frost<\/a>
Most hardy, well-established plants, like this rhododendron, will have no problem bouncing back from a hard frost but will likely lose buds that have already developed. Photo: liz west, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While early or late frosts can cause unsightly damage to plants, it won\u2019t usually kill hardy, established ones. The greatest risk tends to be to newly planted seedlings and flower buds. Seedlings might not be rooted in well enough to survive, or may experience a severe setback due to shock, and flower buds that freeze may lose an entire bloom season and any fruit that might have followed.<\/p>\n

Predicting frosts can be a tricky business, since frost dates are based on yearly averages, so it\u2019s important to be prepared. Here are ways to protect at-risk plants from a sudden frost:<\/p>\n