What do I do with fall planted cool-season annuals when winter arrives?

Question:

What do I do with fall planted cool-season annuals when winter arrives?

Answer:

Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.

Cool-season annuals planted in fall can be left in the ground through the winter months, some species may even overwinter under the snow and begin growing again in early spring. They can be replaced with new cool-season annuals in early spring or left to bloom through the cool spring season and replaced with summer annuals after the danger of frost passes, in early to mid-May for much of Iowa.