Hi Mary.
I have some of that green material that is sold to cover plants. Or I use sheets or burlap what ever I can find. For things like Coleus I take cuttings late in the fall and no longer cover them. Just to much to cover and even then they do not do well in the freezing cold. I do cover some of the stuff I bring up on the patio, just depends on how cold. Used to be more fanatical about saving things , just would rather take cuttings and keep them in the house till spring.
Sorry about your Mom. That seems to happen to so many as they age.
