I would put them in a rectangle along a foundation and pile the leaves around them there. I've wintered over potted plants buried in mulch.

I like that idea even better. I've purchased hostas before and never got around to planting them and they were fine the next year. I don't want to chance that with all these though and would at least try to prepare them as much as I'm able to.

if I put them in there the roots will freeze killing the plants because thats what happened to my strawberries (not my chives though lol). So if I enclosed the opening to the beds maybe even stuff leaves under them (we have a bounty of those) would they make it through the winter?

==>> i am confused..

zone appropriate plants.. will NOT care if the ground freezes .. period

your prior failure.. most likely.. was winter water management in a frozen pot ... the SBerries roots rotted off ..

pots should be put in full shade .. never winter sun on a small pot ... else the pot might thaw in feb.. not good ...

and then once frozen.. laid on their sides.. so NO WATER accumulates in frozen media.. roots need air.. water on frozen media makes ice cubes ... like you dont know that.. lol ..

once frozen solid.. they could be staked on pyramid style and cover with a tarp .. but not one that will trap heat ..... to avoid excessive winter wind.. which will desiccate media like chicken in the freezer ...

and they should be left as such.. until the ground starts to thaw in spring.. not too early..

the key is.. GET THEM DORMANT AND MAINTAIN DORMANCY ... and manage water properly ...

ken

ps: little pots thaw fast.. during these few day warm spells int eh great white north ... by stacking them into a giant mass... they will insulate themselves .... a big gob of soil.. takes a month to thaw.. compared to a quart plant ...

If you have an unheated garage or shed you can store them there. Once they are frozen and dormant I bring mine into the garage until early spring. Sometimes I place pots next to the house foundation and cover them with bagged leaves until spring.

I've had the most success over-wintering perennials when I've set them against the house foundation on my east-facing breezeway and allowed whatever winter precipitation falls to keep them hydrated over the cold season. Even delphiniums have survived winter this way but I'm 2 zones warmer zone than you.

Nursery-grown plants won't do as well as things grown from seed via winter sowing. Sorry to sound negative + don't wish to rain on your parade but that's been the reality I've experienced.

Ditto Ken's remark--no smaller than gallon-sized pots + good potting mix. I haven't found it helpful to lay pots on their sides but there again, I'm in a warmer zone.

Best of luck to you. Don't leave us wondering what success you have.

there are many pot-aholics in the hosta forum ... who have many tricks for over wintering pots.... in many diverse zones ...

ken

I do not know if you can find them now but anything I want to over winter they are planted in Styrofoam coolers. I pick them up at the dollar store. Punch drainage holes, stack up the leaves and set the coolers on the leaves. Plant and stuff the leaves around the coolers.

I have never lost a plant with this amount of insulation.