How to protect your plants in the winter
The first thing to do when you want to protect your plants from cold winter weather is to know how to spot the signs of cold damage. Cold damage to plants can cause wilted foliage, brown leaf edges or brown and crumpled foliage. It can happen to all sorts of plants in your garden especially during periods of severe cold weather when the soil freezes.
How to treat cold damaged garden plants
Once you have spotted signs of cold damage to your garden plants the only thing you can do is to remove the afflicted leaves and flowers to prevent the damage from spreading. The plant is at risk if the cold damage spreads, but it is far better to prevent the damage rather than try to fix it.
How to prevent cold damage affecting plants
Fleece
Horticultural fleece, traps warm air around the plant and stops frost from getting to them. Roll fleece around the plants in your garden that you want to protect. It can be secured with stakes. TOP TIP Make sure there are no gaps where the cold air can penetrate through to the plant.
Cloches
A cloche has a greenhouse effect on plants therefore they keep them warm and protected from bad weather. They suit the low growing plants in your garden. TOP TIP Make sure you stop using cloches once the bad weather has passed as they can encourage diseases when warmer weather returns.
Polytunnels
A polytunnel has the same effect as a cloche, but it is larger so can be used to protect several plants at the same time. TOP TIP Polytunnels are very useful for growing and protecting vegetables.
Mulching
Mulch can be used to protect the roots of plants from frost. It works well for hardy plants in your garden. TOP TIP Garden compost and bark chippings are well suited to mulching.
Position
Move potted plants next to fences and walls for protection from strong winds and try to keep plants in areas of your garden that get the most sunlight. TOP TIP Group plants together so they can protect each other and insulate each other.
Which plants will be affected by cold weather and need protecting?
- Bedding plants
- Planted containers
- Spring bulbs
- Small shrubs
- Tree ferns
- Ferns
- Vegetables
Which garden plants can survive without winter protection?
- Winter flowering shrubs
- Evergreen shrubs
- Conifers
If you are looking for hardy plants, which shouldnt need any winter protection, shop hardy shrubs here!
By investing some time and money into protecting your garden from cold weather and frost you will reap the benefits when the Spring returns. Keeping your garden beautiful is a commitment throughout the seasons but often prevention is better than cure when caring for the plants in your garden.