Hi Doris,

When planting your garlic in the Fall, in raised beds, you can protect it with a a couple extra inches of mulch - I typically use about four inches of straw, or a chopped oak leaf/straw combo.  This short video from OSU Extension shows elephant garlic being planted in a raised bed, and mulched.  You would do the same for what ever variety of garlic you prefer to grow. Sometimes in mild winters you might see a few green shoots, and then have a freeze - with the thick layer of mulch your plants should come through just fine.  Here's a general fact sheet for growing garlic in Ohio you might find interesting.

Bulbs, flowers or garlic, planted in pots generally don't overwinter well if the pot drainage is not real good, and the top of the pot not mulched heavily. I've also had problems with the squirrels and other rodents finding the pots easy pickings.  If you want to plant flower bulbs in pots I recommend using a very large pot, the volume of soil protects the bulbs better, adding some hot pepper flakes, blood meal to the soil to deter rodents, and heavily mulching the top with straw or dried leaves.

Thanks for contacting Ask Extension, happy gardening!