How to Winterize Gerber Daisies
The scientific name of these bright blooming flowers is Gerbera jamesonii, but many gardeners prefer Gerber daisy. The vibrant colors of Gerber daisies make them a favorite among gardeners. Because Gerber daisies are sensitive to cold temperatures, only gardeners living in regions where the temperature will not fall below 10 degrees Fahrenheit can successfully grow Gerber daisies as a perennial flower unless they take the daisies indoors. Winterize Gerber daisies to keep these garden beauties growing energetically for many years.
Winterizing Perennial Gerber Daisies
Cut back the Gerber daisies growing in the soil to just above the soil level before the first autumn frost. Use the pruning shears to cut the stalks off approximately 1 inch above the soil level.
Cover the Gerber daisies with between 3 and 4 inches of shredded mulch, making sure you cover the entire planting area evenly with the mulch.
- The scientific name of these bright blooming flowers is Gerbera jamesonii, but many gardeners prefer Gerber daisy.
- Cover the Gerber daisies with between 3 and 4 inches of shredded mulch, making sure you cover the entire planting area evenly with the mulch.
Remove the mulch the following spring when the temperatures moderate and all threat of spring frosts pass.
Winterizing Annual Gerber Daisies
Cut back the Gerber daisies growing in containers to just above the level of the potting soil with the pruning shears. If you have Gerber daisies growing in the ground, they will not survive the winter if temperatures fall below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, gardeners living in these colder regions must grow Gerbers as annual flowers when planting in the soil (replacing them each spring with new flowers) or grow them in containers.
Move the Gerbers in containers from their outside growing location to a protected location where temperatures will stay around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Provide water for the Gerber daisies once or twice each month to prevent them from completely drying out.
Move the Gerbers outside when temperatures moderate and all threat of spring frosts pass.
- Remove the mulch the following spring when the temperatures moderate and all threat of spring frosts pass.
- Move the Gerbers in containers from their outside growing location to a protected location where temperatures will stay around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tip
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) separates the United States into growing regions (zones) according to the coldest winter temperatures generally occurring in these regions in connection with growing plants. The coldest USDA hardiness zone is zone 1 and the warmest USDA hardiness zone is zone 11. Plants have a hardiness rating according to this system to indicate to gardeners what plants they can successfully grow in the zone in which they reside.
Gerber daisies are hardy to zone 8 as perennial flowers, which means that gardeners living in USDA zones between 8 and 11 can grow gerbers perennially.
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References
Tips
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) separates the United States into growing regions (zones) according to the coldest winter temperatures generally occurring in these regions in connection with growing plants. The coldest USDA hardiness zone is zone 1 and the warmest USDA hardiness zone is zone 11. Plants have a hardiness rating according to this system to indicate to gardeners what plants they can successfully grow in the zone in which they reside.
- Gerber daisies are hardy to zone 8 as perennial flowers, which means that gardeners living in USDA zones between 8 and 11 can grow gerbers perennially.
Writer Bio
Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon.
