From Kathy:
I'm a transplanted New Yorker who is deliriously happy to have earth in
my yard now not concrete! As such I've become in the last 3 yrs. a
passionate gardener.
Passionate...but inexperienced. I have a 2 foot high [hardy]
crapemyrtle. I'm thinking it's too late to plant it, right? But I've
never 'kept' a plant over the winter, and I so want to keep this alive
'til next Spring.
Can you advise me? Also I have no clue what goes on with plants in the
winter, inside or out. I mean: Are they hibernating or whatever? What
are you supposed to do with perennials outside during the winter to make
them still alive/blooming in Spring?
See? I told you I was inexperienced! I am-but I can't tell you all
what a joy it is to be able to garden!
Crape Myrtle
Crape myrtles are an interesting plant for us this far north. They are marginal in winter hardiness. Most times they die back to the ground each spring. The new growth then comes from the roots. They are also one of the last plants to break bud in the spring.
I would recommend that you go ahead and plant it outside. Water in well and then mulch for added winter protection.
The other option is to hold the pot in your garage till late winter. Once the temperatures start to fall into the teens move the plant, pot and all into the unheated garage. Water when dry. This will protect not only the roots from extreme cold but also the top growth. Once the dangers of a very hard freeze has passed plant outside.
There are your two options. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Dennis - Johnson County Extension
I'd garage it
Considering the marginal winter hardiness, I think I'd err on the side of caution and garage the crape myrtle. They take so long to emerge in the spring that you might think it's dead and discard it. Ours take forever to show signs of life in the spring, and they do die back to the ground in winter.
Gugsi
You show great wisdom. If you nailed me down to one way or other - at this point I would also garage it!
Dennis