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What to do with plants arriving in winter

taylos1taylos1 Posts: 2
in Plants
I ordered a range of plants from Parkers and it has taken ages for them to arrive. A box arrived yesterday full of small perennials and grasses and still to arrive are bare root roses. It is very cold now and I do not have a greenhouse so what can I do with them? They are in my garage now.

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Which varieties of perennials and grasses are they ?
    If you can give some idea of whereabouts you are in the UK (a general location will do) that will help with advice.

    I believe the bare root roses can be heeled in as long as the ground isn't frosty, and l believe it is due to get milder in most parts of the country next week  :)
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Do you have a cold frame or somewhere sheltered, like against a wall of the house? Or a large clear plastc storage box?

    It wasn't as cold as this when mine arrived, not from Parkers. I repotted them all and put them by a wall and put breeze blocks around for extra protection. I'm assuming they are hardy perennials. If they are small it would be best to grow them on a bit before planting in the spring as they will be less likely to be eaten by slugs when they are bigger.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If the ground is too wet or too frozen to dig, the roses can be heeled in in pots (big enough for the roots) or even potted up and then planted out in spring. As long as they do get planted before next year's growth really gets going, old spent potting compost would be fine.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • taylos1taylos1 Posts: 2
    Thank you. That is reassuring. 
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