In Connecticut, the four seasons impact a gardener’s schedule for when it is best to plant or transplant perennials.

Gardening guru and author Sydney Eddison shares that “In this climate, spring planting makes much more sense.”

Spring planting, particularly in April, is helpful for getting the plant’s roots established in the soil. It also allows for consistent watering to take place in the summer and into the fall, which helps the plant have a better chance of surviving through the winter.

Some people may choose to plant in the fall, but it does come with a higher risk of the plant not making it.

“I don’t like fall planting, because they haven’t gotten their roots into the soil enough, so when the soil freezes, they can no longer pull any water,” Eddison said. “This is especially true of evergreens. They are losing water from their needles and/or leaves, but they can’t replace it, because the ground is frozen and they can’t suck the water up.”

So what happens when an outdoor potted plant does not get in the ground in time?

For those that have outdoor potted plants still out in January, there is still hope that they can make it through the winter.

Ornamental grasses in particular have the best odds, because of how hardy they are. Other plants, such as day lilies and tree saplings, are also resilient and durable.

Eddison says she currently has some ornamental grasses in her window boxes that she will be leaving outside through the winter.

Window boxes may be okay for ornamental grasses in the cold months, but Eddison recommends a different approach when it comes to other plants.

In general, plastic containers are better to withstand the freezing temperatures than terra-cotta pots for plants.

Eddison suggests taking any outdoor plant out of a terra-cotta pot during the winter “because terra-cotta absorbs water and when it freezes it’ll be like an ice cube … it expands and can crack the pot.”

Eddison also advises, “If they’re in pots and you haven’t had a chance to get them in the ground, I’d put them right against the side of the house. I’d get some bales of hay and put the bales of hay around them against the pots. Give that a try and then leave them alone.”

With that in mind, she says that in the winter, once a plant has been frozen, there is no need to water it like during the warmer months.

It is best to not interfere with them, because plants do not do well with back-and-forth freezing and thawing.

Another option for keeping outdoor potted plants through the winter, is to try to bring the plant in the garage for some consistency, but that is only an option if there is adequate sunlight available to it.

Ultimately, Sydney says that trial and error is just part of being a gardener.

“This is how we garden. We learn on the job. There is no better way – there may be quicker ways, like studying with someone – but my way, was the long way. I tried everything … you live and learn. I don’t think there is a better way to garden,” Sydney said.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.