With cooler temps just around the corner, I thought I'd mention a word about growing and overwintering in pots. (This is my and my grandson's snowman silkie from a couple of winters ago 😄)
If you want to keep things like boxwood, smalller hydrangeas and roses in pots year round, a rule of thumb is that only those plants which are hardy to two zones below your growing zone, are safe in pots. If not, the roots could be damaged during extremely cold periods. When plants are in the ground, the roots are protected, instead of having that cold air all the way around the root system. So for our zone 6b, zone 4 and lower varieties should be totally fine. Make sure that your potted plants are getting enough moisture during dry periods. Even with rain, potted plants don't get the same amount of water as those in the ground. Especially with evergreens like boxwood, if a super cold blast is due to come in, make sure the roots have moisture so the leaves are hydrated. Cold wind is desicating to the leaves. It dries the moisture out, and those leaves die from "cold burn." There's a product called Wilt Proof, that some people and nurseries use to protect broad leaf evergreens. I've used it on topiaries. It's a natural product that is a protective coating which helps prevent moisture loss.
Enjoy the cooler temps and relief from that awful heat!
Cheryl
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