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A Homes & Gardens gardening report advises lifting or moving six tender summer plants before freezing weather and storing them according to their needs. The plants include tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus, tropical water lily and dahlias; exact timing and methods depend on local frost risk, variety and drainage.
A Homes & Gardens report published for October 2026 advises gardeners to lift or move six tender summer plants before freezing weather, then store them according to whether they are bulbs, rhizomes, tubers or living plants. The guidance matters because frost and waterlogged storage can damage plants, while the right winter conditions may allow them to be replanted for another season.
The six plants covered are tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus, tropical water lily and dahlia. The report says dormant bulbs and rhizomes generally need cool, dry, frost-free storage, while evergreen plants may need light and occasional water. It also stresses that gardeners should identify the plant and its variety before choosing a method; not every plant in a group has the same cold tolerance.
For tuberose, the report recommends waiting for foliage to yellow, allowing the plant to dry down, then lifting and drying the bulbs before storing them in a ventilated bag or tray. Pineapple lily bulbs can be lifted after foliage dies back and kept cool and frost-free; potted plants can instead be moved under cover, with care taken not to leave the compost waterlogged. Calla lily rhizomes should be lifted or removed from pots after flowering and as foliage yellows, then dried and stored in a cool, dry place.
Agapanthus needs a different approach depending on whether it is deciduous or evergreen. The report says deciduous forms can be cut back after their foliage dies and stored frost-free, while evergreen types need a bright, sheltered position and sparse watering. Tropical water lilies must be brought indoors in cold climates because they cannot tolerate freezing temperatures; the report distinguishes them from hardy water lilies, which can often remain in a pond. The supplied source begins its instructions for tropical water lilies but cuts off before giving the full storage procedure. It also names dahlias among the six plants, but provides no dahlia-specific directions in the available text.
Protecting Plants From Frost Damage
For gardeners who have invested in tender summer plants, acting before a hard frost can make the difference between keeping and losing bulbs, rhizomes or tubers. The report presents lifting and storage as a way to retain plants for another growing season, rather than buying replacements, although it does not quantify potential savings or guarantee a successful return.
The advice also underscores that cold is not the only risk. Damp conditions can cause stored or dormant plant material to rot, and evergreen plants may suffer if treated like dormant bulbs and left without light or water. Matching storage to plant type—and checking stored material during winter—can help gardeners spot problems before they spread.
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Local Frost Dates Shape the Plan
The report does not set one nationwide date for lifting plants. It says location, the local first-frost date and winter soil drainage all affect the decision. A plant may survive outdoors in a mild, well-drained garden but need shelter in a colder area or in heavy, wet soil. The article cites general hardiness guidance for some plants, including pineapple lily in USDA Zones 7–10 and calla lilies in milder areas, generally Zone 8 and warmer, while emphasizing that conditions and varieties matter.
It recommends preparing before digging by gathering breathable bags, labels and shallow trays. After storage, the material advises checking roots and containers at least monthly for rot or shriveling. In spring, plants should be returned outdoors only after the risk of hard freezes has passed, with the precise timing dependent on local conditions.
“Soggy storage can be as damaging as freezing temperatures.”
— Homes & Gardens report
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Plant-Specific Steps Still Missing
The source text supplied for this report is incomplete: its tropical water lily instructions stop mid-sentence, and it offers no directions for dahlias despite listing them as one of the six plants. The exact storage temperature, duration and spring replanting steps for those plants are therefore not established by the available material.
The guidance also does not identify a first-frost date that applies to all readers or specify the hardiness of every cultivar. Gardeners should check plant labels and local weather information before deciding whether to lift, mulch, move or leave a plant outdoors. The report’s expected benefit—a stronger display the next year—is a gardening rationale, not a guaranteed outcome.
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Check Forecasts Before Lifting
Gardeners should monitor local forecasts and take action ahead of the first hard freeze, while allowing foliage to die back where the report recommends it. Before storing plants, label varieties, remove loose soil and let lifted material dry as directed. Keep dormant material cool, dry and frost-free; provide light and limited water for evergreen plants that remain in growth.
During winter, inspect stored plants about once a month for rot or shriveling. In spring, replant or move them outside after hard freezes have passed. For tropical water lilies and dahlias, readers will need complete plant-specific instructions from a reliable gardening source because those details are absent from the supplied report.
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Key Questions
Which six plants does the report cover?
It names tuberose, pineapple lily, calla lily, agapanthus, tropical water lily and dahlia. The supplied text gives practical directions for the first five only in part; it does not include dahlia instructions.
When should tender plants be lifted?
The report advises acting before freezing weather, but it gives no universal date. Use your local first-frost forecast and account for the plant’s condition, variety and garden drainage.
How should dormant bulbs and rhizomes be stored?
According to the report, they generally need a cool, dry, frost-free place. Let lifted material dry where directed, use breathable containers and inspect it during winter for rot or shriveling.
Can every water lily stay outside in winter?
No. The report says tropical water lilies cannot tolerate freezing temperatures and need to be brought indoors in colder climates. Hardy water lilies are a separate group and can often remain in a pond; check the plant type before acting.
Source: rss
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