Rosemary is a tender perennial herb. And that’s true of any zone 8 plants, not just rosemary. If your potful of rosemary has gotten a bit unwieldy, as rosemary is wont to do, you can certainly give it a bit of a haircut before you bring it inside. The mulch will help protect the roots and help the plant endure freezing and thawing soil. If you live in USDA growing zones 7-10, where the ever-flowering rosemary shrub is used as an anchor in the perennial landscape, you probably think I’m a little cooky. Rosemary does well in containers in a soil-based, peat-free compost. Before we answer that question it's crucial to understand that the primary environmental enemy of rosemary is an over-wet soil and this is especially the case in winter when more rain falls. It will not survive outdoors in extremely cold weather. Delay buying herb plants from garden centres until the weather warms up in late spring. The easiest way to ensure it survives the winter is to plant rosemary in a container, and overwinter it indoors. Some suggest that rosemary needs 6-8 hours of full sunlight.During the winter, that may mean keeping a lamp on it after sun down. However, quite a few herbs can be kept going, especially if you can grow them under glass. In cold winters, bring plants under cover for protection. While rosemary thrives in cool temperatures, it does not tolerate freezing in winter so must be protected in many areas of the country. Some herbs simply won’t grow in the UK over the winter: basil is an example, and chives will survive and return exuberantly in the spring, but won’t actually grow, even in a cold frame. To save rosemary over the winter in cold climates, place the plant in a pot. Sage; goes a bit "loppy" in winter but rallies in spring; can be cut back quite hard like Rosemary so long as you don't overdo it Basil; very tender, also an annual in this country. Finally, indoor rosemary does best with cool (60F) dry air. After the first hard freeze, apply a 3- to 6-inch-deep layer of chopped leaves, pine needles, straw or other organic material. Try mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme and sage. Keep rosemary plants well watered during dry spells and feed with a general fertiliser during the growing season. Winter planted herbs are vulnerable to … Keep in mind that even hardy rosemary plants benefit from ample winter protection, as temperatures in zone 5 may drop as low as -20 F. (-29 C.). Add crocks to the bottom of pots to aid drainage. Rosemary is traditionally a warm climate plant, but agronomists have been busy developing cold hardy rosemary cultivars suitable for growing in cold northern climates. But when the REAL Maryland winter returns (if it ever does), the plant will be toast. These can be sown indoors as with the tender herbs, or sow them outdoors in May in containers. Rosemary. In areas where it remains below freezing for much of winter, planting rosemary in pots is preferable to ensure survival. Take steps to protect it. Others note that it needs good drainage and that over watering can be a problem. If your soil is free draining and relatively light then most varieties of rosemary are frost hardy down to -8°C / 18°F, many to much lower temperatures. Rosemary is a robust and hearty herb, but it is still a Mediterranean plant that can succumb to cold temperatures. Rosemary is pretty hardy, in well-drained soil will easily survive winter and can be cut back in spring so long as you don't go all the way back to the woody stuff. If you live in an area with winter freezes, don't assume that your rosemary will survive without help. Rosemary can be trimmed in winter or you can wait until spring. 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