Inspection

• Before bringing the shrubs inside, check for pests hiding around the base of the container. Look for insects, egg sacs and rodent burrows. Examine the tops and undersides of leaves. Remove any insects with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Remove the old mulch from the top of the container and replace it with 4 inches of new mulch.
  
  

Location

• Move the shrubs to an unheated room like the garage or garden shed. The goal is to store the shrub over the winter without breaking the natural dormancy cycle. In a heated room, the air temperature is too warm and will stimulate unseasonable growth. The heat will dry the soil out quickly.
  
  

Care

• Keep the soil moist throughout the winter. Check the soil every two weeks to keep it from drying out. When the soil pulls away from the sides of the container, water immediately, or the roots will be exposed. Plants under water stress have a poor winter survival rate.