Protecting your plants from frost damage
Frost can harm a variety of plants, especially tender new growth and blossoms in the spring. However, you can minimize the risk of frost damage by taking a few simple precautions to protect your garden plants.
To protect your plants from cold weather, there are several strategies you can use:
Choose hardy plants that are well-suited to your growing conditions. Our teams are on hand to help you find the right plants for your garden.
Plant in the right locations by avoiding frost pockets. Proper placement can prevent exposure to extreme cold.
Position tender plants in warm, sunny spots, such as against a south-facing wall, to offer extra warmth and protection during the winter months.
Cover plants with a double layer of biodegradable fleece or old fabric like sheets when frost is expected, providing extra insulation overnight.
Mulch the roots of evergreens, conifers, tender shrubs, and perennials with a thick layer of organic material to help keep the ground from freezing.
Move container plants to sheltered spots during cold weather and insulate the pots with bubble wrap for added protection.
Overwinter tender plants in a greenhouse by ensuring it’s adequately heated or insulated for their protection.
Leave the previous season’s growth on more tender plants like penstemon to provide additional frost protection until spring.
Lift or relocate tender plants, such as tree ferns or bananas, to a more sheltered area or greenhouse. For perennials like dahlias, cannas, and pelargoniums, dig them up before the first frost.
Protect fruit and strawberries by packing them with straw or bracken to shield them from frost.
Avoid using nitrogen-rich fertilizers late in the season, as they encourage tender, sappy growth that is more prone to frost damage.
Be cautious of early morning sun that can thaw frost too quickly, causing damage to flowers and young growth. Plants like camellias and magnolias are particularly vulnerable to this.
Wait to plant tender bedding plants until after the frost risk has passed. This typically occurs in early May in London and the southwest, mid-May in southern England, late May in most parts of England and Wales, and June in Scotland and northern England. Always harden off plants before planting them outside.
By following these steps, you can minimize the impact of cold weather on your plants and ensure their health through winter.
