Plants to protect from wind-rock
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Thursday, 25 April 2019 at 1:02 pm
Certain plants are more prone to being damaged by strong winter gales than others. We highlight those that benefit from some extra protection.
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In autumn, some plants will need to be prepared before winter to prevent wind-rock – high winds can loosen plant roots.
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This includes newly planted shrubs, and plants that have become top-heavy. If you're growing any of these, discover our pruning tips to prevent wind-rock.
Discover which plants are susceptible to wind-rock, below.
In autumn, some plants will need to be prepared before winter to prevent wind-rock – high winds can loosen plant roots.
Roses
Peachy-pink rose 'Hot Chocolate' bloom
Shorten the stems of tall bush and shrub roses to reduce windrock during winter gales, by pruning back to an outward-facing bud. Take a look at our autumn rose care guide for more advice.
Buddleia
Deep pink Buddleja 'Summer Beauty' blooms
Buddleias can put on a staggering amount of growth in a season, so it's worth thinning them out to prevent wind-rock. You can also hard prune buddleias in early spring to improve their appearance.
Dogwoods (Cornus)
Pink-red stems of dogwood Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
These winter showstoppers display their dazzling stems in winter. Prune species like Cornus alba and Cornus sanguinea lightly before winter to reduce the 'sail' effect of top growth.
Lavatera
Mauve blooms of Lavatera 'Maritima'
Lavatera, or tree mallow, grows well in coastal locations and light, well-drained soils, but this can leave plants exposed to wind-rock. Protect them from inclement winter weather by shortening lanky stems.
Abutilon
Pendulous, pale-orange blooms of Abutilon 'Leila Jackson'
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If you're growing abutilons in containers or are keeping them indoors over winter then wind-rock is less of a concern. However, they can become top heavy, so it's a good idea to thin out those growing outdoors in exposed spots.
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