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How to protect plants in winter
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Saturday, 13 April 2019 at 3:00 pm
Discover different ways to protect vulnerable plants over winter, in our practical guide.
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Tender perennials, specimen trees and container-grown plants can all fall prey to frost, snow and heavy rain during winter. By following our simple guide, you can help your plants survive even the harshest conditions and prolong the harvest of your edible crops.
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You Will Need
- Bubble polythene
- Fleece
- Cloche
- Broom
- Straw
- Greenhouse heater
Step 1
Knocking snow off plants
Take a broom and knock snow off plants before it freezes. This prevents sagging and broken branches under the weight of the snow. Be sure to knock snow off hedges and specimen trees and shrubs, as well as mound-forming evergreens such as hebe, which all suffer irreparable damage from heavy snowfall.
Step 2
Lighting a paraffin heater
Protect greenhouse plants by lining the greenhouse with bubble wrap, and consider using a paraffin heater to keep your most tender plants warm. Using bubble wrap or horticultural fleece, you can create partitions within the greenhouse by making 'curtains'. Hang them from the roof and ensure they reach the ground, then seal the edges with tape. This will create smaller spaces to heat within the greenhouse, saving you money on heating bills.
Step 3
Covering crops with a cloche
On the vegetable patch, protect carrots, parsnips and other root crops with a blanket of straw to stop the ground freezing around them. This will enable you to continue to harvest them when required. Place cloches over salad plants, or sow fresh seed in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.
Step 4
Aeoniums in pots
Move tender succulents, including aeoniums, aloes and echeverias, into a frost-free location in full sun, such as a heated greenhouse, conservatory or south-facing windowsill. Most succulents enter a rest period in winter, so allow the compost to dry out between waterings.
Step 5
Walking on grass
Avoid walking on grass in winter, particularly when frost or snow blankets the lawn. If you do step on it, you’ll notice that your footprints linger, as frozen grass blades break underfoot.
Step 6
Wrapping pots in bubble wrap
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Wrap large pots in hessian sacking or bubble wrap. Tie it securely in place and leave it there throughout winter. If you have large potted plants, wrap the container with a thick layer of insulation to stop the roots from freezing.
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