A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 Winter planting

Hello all- I am preparing my home for sale and would like to plant a couple of bushes in the front yard. I live just outside Chicago and it's cold (about 35 degrees on average lately). Are there any bushes/small trees that I can plant now that will not die immediately? Are there any planted trees that I can put out in the cold and leave in the pot?
Thanks for your help! Monica

Hi Monica,
You can plant trees and bushes clear up until the ground starts freezing and I would imagine by now the ground is frozen, so I don't think you'll get very far! As for putting some trees in a pot, you could get Spruces and place them in a pot. I would leave any burlap around the rootball for added protection. And I would put some mulch on the top of the soil after you've put it in the pot. Water only sparingly, but they do need water. trees in the ground and getting their moisture from there-snow, so we tend to forget that things in pots still need to be watered.
Jacquie

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I will check out some spruces. Actually, it's been the mildest winter in several years. We've been in the 40's lately.

Thanks again!

Many Rhododendrons grow in high elevations like half-way up mountains, say, Oregon's Mt. Hood.

Not all, but a lot.

Typically, Rhododendrons are fairly tough, and have green leaves in the winter. Usually very easy to acquire all year.