Let's Talk Overwintering Hardy Plants in Containers ❄️ Garden Guru Sean at The Gardener's Center 

Carport would be fine for boxwoods in Zone 7b. Most important thing is to protect them from the wind during the coldest part of winter.

The dwarf Alberta spruce is a sun loving plant so no problem at all with the full sun, even in summer.

Yes. Balconies are usually the kiss of death for all but the very hardiest of plants in containers. Even for us here in Connecticut.

Hi Alice. Rhododendrons in the landscape shouldn't require any special protection over the winter, especially if they are planted close to the house. People often wrap boxwoods in burlap for the winter to protect the foliage from burning in cold winter winds. You may want to consider doing this if they are out in the open where they will experience the worst of the wind during the winter. At the very least make sure they are well watered going into the winter and use Wilt-Pruf or a similar product to prevent desiccation of the foliage.

I am so glad I found your video. That was a great explanation as to why broadleaf evergreens can have issues in containers in the winter due to the water in the soil freezing. That makes so much sense! I live in Utah zone 6b and this past spring I purchased a Rhododendron from a large national seller online not realizing that they are very difficult to grow here due to high alkaline soil. So I have been growing it in a pot and fertilizing once a week (until I stopped a couple weeks ago). We dropped below freezing a couple times this week, so I moved it in the garage (not knowing what to do). So I can really keep it in the garage all winter, as long as it doesn’t freeze and I lightly water it, without light (besides the garage lights)? Thanks 😊

The garage is a great spot for your Rhododendron to camp out for the winter. You want to make sure that you don't put it in there too early in the fall or leave it there too late into the spring. The idea is to protect it from the the coldest part of the winter. They can handle temps below freezing without harm. You want to make sure they are not subjected to temps that REMAIN below freezing for days or weeks on end. Here in Connecticut we usually don't have weather like that until after Christmas and that is when I recommend the move to the garage here. The timing may be different in Utah. Give it a very good soak with water before it moves to the garage permanently. Move it back outside in late winter or early spring depending on the temperature. You don't want to wait until it is warm out, just until you are beyond temperatures that remain below freezing day and night. If you leave it in the garage for too long it may start growing before it normally would in the landscape since it is warmer in the garage and then any tender new growth can be damaged by the weather when it goes back outside.