Preparing my herbs for a freeze?

[Faery-Wings]

I just saw we are going to have a freeze tonight, brrr. I am wondering what I need to do for my potted herbs.

I have lavender, hyssop, thyme, mint. I don't have anywhere to bring them inside, Since they are perennials, should I cover them somehow?

I feel bad, my hyssop is still flowering and I never even harvested anythign from it. :(

Thanks.

Chris, gardening virgin :D

[Mairwen]

Hope I'm not too late! Usually, covering them with plastic, like you would any garden plant/flower does the trick. You can get the plastic at any garden supply store. For potted plants, the easiet would be to to cut the plastic so that you can loosely drape it over the plant and tuck the loose ends under the pot.

[Lavender]

If you have any of those tomato cages, put them around your plants & wrap it with plastic. Leave the top open so it looks like a funnel. Also, if you don't have that, try leaves. Pile leaves around the base of your plants. Or old burlap bags work too. Good luck!

Or try pulling them closer to the house, under an overhang or any protected spots.

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully, the plants will make it till next spring.
:)
Chris

[Kristine]

Of the four herbs you mentioned, I've only worked with thyme and mint --and they will come back next year.

I just let my very large herb garden face the elements and if they freeze, they freeze and I'll see them again in the spring. I feel it's the way it is supposed to be. I have evergreens (holly, indian moke strawberries, pines) also planted amongst my herbs so I can enjoy that greenery during the cold weather.

[banondraig]

my thyme and mint have survived so far this winter, as well as my sage, which surprised me.