I tried it for the first time last winter. I had about l0 pots that I just didn't get around to planting. I had very good luck over wintering them. I think I only lost l pot. I put them under my blue spruce tree, tipped them on their side and totally covered the pots with mulch and they made it through one of the worst winters we had had in years. I can't remember when I did this but I believe it was late October or early November.