Frost can be one of the most challenging aspects of gardening during winter. Freezing temperatures put plants at risk, especially tender varieties or those not accustomed to the cold. Protecting your plants from frost not only saves them from damage but also ensures they emerge healthy and strong when spring arrives. With these practical tips, you can prepare your garden for the colder months and keep your plants safe from the harsh winter weather.

Recognising Plants Vulnerable to Frost

Understanding which plants need the most protection is the first step. Tender plants like begonias, geraniums, and fuchsias are particularly vulnerable. Non-native species, young plants, and those in pots are also more susceptible to frost damage. Assess your garden and prioritise plants that are less hardy, as they’ll need the most care.

Using Mulch to Insulate Roots

A layer of mulch provides essential insulation for plant roots. Use organic materials like straw, bark, or well-rotted compost around the base of shrubs, trees, and flowers. Mulch stabilises soil temperature, retains moisture, and prevents roots from freezing. Apply it generously, especially for perennials and young plants still establishing themselves.

Protecting Plants with Covers

Covers act as a barrier between plants and frost, reducing exposure to freezing air. Use horticultural fleece, hessian, or even old bedsheets to cover vulnerable plants during cold nights. Ensure the material doesn’t weigh down delicate stems by using stakes to create a frame. Remove covers during the day to allow sunlight and airflow, which prevents dampness and rot.

Moving Pots to Sheltered Spots

Potted plants are at higher risk because their roots are exposed to colder temperatures than those planted in the ground. Move pots to sheltered areas such as greenhouses, porches, or against south-facing walls where they’ll receive warmth. Grouping pots together creates a microclimate that offers additional protection from the cold.

Wrapping Trees and Shrubs

Wrapping trees and shrubs helps prevent frost damage to their trunks and branches. Use tree guards or wrap the trunks with burlap or fleece, particularly for young or newly planted trees. For larger shrubs, tie branches loosely together and cover the entire plant with breathable fabric. This method reduces wind chill and protects the plant from harsh winter conditions.

Avoiding Overwatering During Frost

Wet soil freezes more quickly, which puts plant roots at risk. Reduce watering during frosty weather, and ensure pots and beds have good drainage to prevent waterlogging. Focus on watering in the morning rather than late in the day, giving plants time to absorb moisture before the temperature drops at night.

Using Raised Beds for Better Protection

Raised beds provide an additional layer of frost protection by improving drainage and elevating plants away from the coldest ground temperatures. If you already use raised beds, adding a layer of mulch or straw on top increases insulation. For gardens without raised beds, consider building small mounds of soil around tender plants to elevate them slightly.

Installing Windbreaks

Cold winds can exacerbate frost damage by stripping moisture from plants and chilling them further. Windbreaks made from trellises, fences, or temporary barriers like bamboo screens shield plants from icy gusts. Position windbreaks on the side of the prevailing wind to reduce exposure and create a more stable environment.

Using Cloches for Delicate Plants

Cloches provide excellent protection for individual plants or small groups. These dome-shaped covers trap heat from the soil and keep frost off leaves and stems. Use glass or plastic cloches for vegetables and smaller flowers, ensuring they’re well-ventilated during the day to avoid condensation build-up. Cloches are especially effective for plants like lettuce, parsley, and small shrubs.

Choosing Hardy Varieties for Winter

When planning your garden, select plants known for their frost-hardiness. Native UK plants and those adapted to colder climates, such as hellebores, yew, and boxwood, are naturally more resistant to frost. Incorporating these varieties reduces the need for intensive frost protection and ensures your garden looks good year-round.

Safeguard Your Plants This Winter

Frost doesn’t have to spell disaster for your garden. With careful planning and these practical techniques, you protect your plants and keep your garden looking its best throughout winter. By using mulch, shelters, and strategic placement, you create a space where plants can thrive despite the cold.

FAQs

How do I know if my plants are frost-damaged?
Frost damage often appears as blackened, wilted, or mushy leaves and stems. Roots may also be affected if the soil has frozen for an extended period.

Can I leave potted plants outside during winter?
Yes, but they require extra protection. Move pots to sheltered areas and wrap them with bubble wrap or fleece to insulate the roots.

What is the best time to water plants during frost?
Water plants in the morning. The soil absorbs moisture during this time. Avoid watering late in the day to prevent excess water from freezing around the roots. 

© Local Gardeners

As a newbie gardener who is just studying the basic strategies to start a garden from scratch, you will find out that gardening is not a simple undertaking. Maintaining your lawn or upgrading your veggie garden could be challenging, but chances are you face the greatest difficulties when planting your flower beds. The sizes and shapes of flower beds you can go for are so varied that choosing what's best for your garden is a tough job. Obviously, you will need smart tips to lean on when planting flower beds is ahead of you:

• Know how to layer your flower beds - to create a flower border that pleases the eye, you need to adopt the best layering strategy for your newly added flower beds. Basically, layering involves three stages of arranging - starting with the lowest ground cover, going through mid-height and finishing the border with the tallest plants. Stick to that layering technique and you will manage to organise your garden symmetrically. Alpines, Erigeron and Pachysandra are some of the most outstanding species that can form your ground cover. Taller plants like Geraniums and Heleniums are great solutions when you want to create the mid-layer of your flower border. As far as the third layer is concerned, plants with a height between 1-2 meters are what will make the flower bed look complete. You have many wonderful options here -from tall grasses to well-kept shrubs or even Shrub Roses, tall species will bring the eye up, adding a sense of harmony to your garden.

• Pay special attention to the colour palette - while all strategies for planting flower beds are equally important, choosing the right colours is where most homeowners make a mistake. Expert gardeners believe that mixing various colours is only reasonable when the design of your garden space is well thought out. If you are not careful with the combination you intend to make, your flower beds might look far from tranquil. Typically you will have to choose between monochromatic shades and contrasting ones. Ask yourself what effect you wish to achieve after your flower beds have been planted. Do you want your garden to look calm or you prefer drama to set the tone? If calmness is what you desire, choose monochromatic shades. In the opposite case, you can take some risks and opt for contrasting colours. Still, unless you are absolutely certain about the future vision of your garden, you should better go for monochromatic flower beds. With this option, you don't run the risk of turning your garden space into an ill-conceived area.

• Try with repetitive species in the flower bed - before you head out to the market and purchase your brand-new flowers, you should think about repetition in your flower beds. In a word, repetition means planting more than a single bulb of one species in the flower bed. Whether you would prefer to repeat the colour of your flowers or you intend to create a curious shape in the flower bed, repetition is your best bet for a picture-perfect garden. Figure out a repetitive pattern to boost the effect you want to achieve with your plants. If creating a formal garden is what you have passion for, you can plant your flowers in straight lines. In any other case, however, you can lay plants in 3’s or 5’s to avoid a garden that looks too simple and boring. Great examples of provocative patterns are triangles and drifts of 3 or 5 plants.

Planting flower beds is one of those gardening jobs that provide the possibility for making a mistake. Now that you have improved your knowledge on the subject, you will get the opportunity to design your garden space just like a real expert.

©Local Gardeners

When trees become part of your garden, your picturesque backyard space will finally look complete. Well-cared trees are all you need so that you can count on a cosy garden. From the moment you plant your first trees, you should provide special care and make sure the plants grow strong and healthy. Read on to find out essential tips that will help you to get the most of your garden and rest under the shadow of mighty trees:

• Water accurately – young trees that you have just planted need a lot of moisture to grow healthy roots. Expert gardeners agree that you should water the trees as soon as you plant them, but keep in mind excess water may cause root decay. Well-developed roots require a decent level of moisture, so do your best to water deeply. Furthermore, you should avoid overwatering the area around your tree. Simply grab your garden hose and spray the soil for about 30 seconds, making sure water enters deep into the soil. You should stick to an effective watering routine until your trees get 2 years old. Once mature enough, established roots no longer need frequent watering, unless you live in an extremely dry area.

• Mulch immediately – in addition to being one of the coolest solutions for improving the décor of your backyard, mulch has a practical aspect as well. Laying mulch around your trees keeps your new plants safe from extreme temperatures by insulating their roots from cold and drought. A 3-inch layer of mulch will preserve the necessary moisture for your trees to develop strong roots, thus increasing your chances to grow healthy plants. Bear in mind that you should start mulching once you plant the trees. Young trees need immediate insulation, which is why you shouldn’t postpone the task.

• Prune your trees – dead branches are a normal stage of the growth of any tree, so you shouldn’t worry if you notice leafless spots on your trees. You should, however, get rid of those branches, so that you can let new, healthy leaves appear. From time to time inspect your young trees for dead or broken branches and prune them off. Just make sure that you leave no stubs while tackling the task, otherwise, you may cause a disease or a pest problem to your trees.

• Fertilise the soil – if you have any experience as a gardener, you are already familiar with the importance of fertilising. Most types of soils lack crucial nutrients plants require for healthy growth, that’s why you must add those nutrients by yourself. Just like the lawn or your flower garden, your trees should benefit from the best soil, so invest in an appropriate fertilising solution. In case you haven’t had your soil tested yet, deal with the job right away. Test results will indicate what nutrients your soil lacks, allowing you to pick the right fertiliser. Still, you should always choose organic alternatives over their chemical versions.

• Fend off the grass – growing trees and grass nearby may seem like a wonderful way to design your backyard space, but this is not beneficial for the trees. When it comes to nutrients, water or even air, the grass is a powerful rival to trees and chances are it will win the fight. To make sure your trees receive sufficient vital ingredients, keep the grass at bay. When planting your trees, choose a grass-free space where your brand-new plants will be able to establish. A well-mulched, competition-free trunk has a much higher chance to survive in your garden.

Growing healthy trees is a truly rewarding task that can improve the image of your garden. If you are just about to plant your very first trees, stick to these basic guidelines and you will end up with beautiful strong trees.

© Fast Landscape Gardening

Expert local gardeners would tell you that watering the plants is a little more complicated task than it seems to be. You have seen gardens where plants are always fresh and thriving, but your vegetables perform worse than you have expected? Perhaps you underestimated the importance of mastering the right watering techniques. Don’t give up on your garden, it never too late to grow healthy plants. Read on to discover which are the inappropriate water-related practices and switch to some advantageous watering routines:

• You shouldn’t misuse the sprinkler’s automatic option – the automatic function of your watering device is a setting that allows you to determine an exact hour for the sprinkler to turn on. Surely this is a cool option and it facilitates watering when you are away, but don’t get carried away with it. Instead of using that privilege every single day, water the plants by yourself and benefit from the self-control alternative only when necessary. Otherwise, likely, your garden wouldn’t get the right amount of water.

• You shouldn’t water only on the surface – unless you are planting seeds, make sure that water goes deep into the ground. It is a common mistake to believe that if you moisturise the surface every day, you take good care of your plants. Generous watering is just as important as its frequency. For plants to have powerful roots, water has to reach them deeply. In the opposite case, roots stay closer to the surface and they can dry out fast.

• You should adjust the right water stream – if you decide to use a hose for watering the garden, don’t maximise the power of the water stream. Despite the common concept that severe pressure would damage the plants, this is not the real issue. Too hard of a water stream is a plain waste of water that doesn’t reach plants’ roots and it is unnecessary for their good health. A more gentle, but steady water stream would do the job more efficiently.

• Your watering schedule is ill-timed – the problem that comes with a poor choice of watering time is the ability of water to vaporise. Don’t start with the task in the middle of the day or later in the evening, because a great amount of water would disappear before reaching the roots of your plants. The best moment to schedule watering is early in the morning when the weather is still cool. This way your plants would be supplied with the entire amount of water they need to grow strong and healthy.

• You shouldn’t overwater – the first thought of many non-pro gardeners is to feed their lovely plants as often as possible. Indeed, too much water is often as dangerous as neglecting your garden. How to determine the number of times you should deal with watering? It depends on factors like the type of soil and the kind of plants you grow. A smart approach would be for you to organise plants considering their needs. This way you will be able to supply each group with the exact amount of water it requires.

• You shouldn’t concentrate on the leaves – no doubt tiny drops of water on your plants’ leaves look nice, but that’s not the way to go. Watering only the leaves means that you don’t supply your plants with enough food. While watering, direct your efforts to the roots since they should grow strong for the plants to stay healthy.

Each first-time gardener makes watering mistakes that often result in weak plants. Do your best to avoid these common misconceptions and your garden will shelter green, healthy plants.

© Local Gardeners

Deadheading is one of the gardening chores you will need to address regularly through the plant growing season. In essence, deadheading involves the removal of spent flowers from living plants. While it sounds a little scary and rough, it is a way to ensure that your plants produce more flowers for the months to come. 

As one of the essential skills, deadheading is something every gardener out there should master. It is simple, though there are some tips you should consider to ensure a good outcome. So, when it comes to doing this chore on flowers, there are a few possible techniques you can employ. The one you pick largely depends on the type of plant you have – its size and the number of flowers it produces will tell you which of these three deadheading methods to utilise: 

1. Pinching

A lot of flower stalks are relatively thin and soft. This means it is pretty much enough to pinch them off with your fingers. This method is quite quick, as it requires little to no preparation, to execute it. Consider using it on coleus. That is one plant you want no flowers of because you are probably growing it for the leaves mostly. 

1. Pruning

Pruning is ideal for any plant with big flowers. For example, you will use on coneflowers and daylilies. Hand pruners make the best tool for the job. One mistake people often make to remove unopened buds, thinking that they will never make it. Expert gardeners recommend you first remove the flowers on the top and leave some time for the buds. There is a good chance they will flower soon enough. If you find that the whole stalk is done with its blooming, remove it from the base of the plant. 

1. Shearing

If you are dealing with a profusion of tiny flowers, you need to take your time. Wait until all of the flowers have reached their prime. That is when you should shear the plant back by at least one-third. Sure, you will lose a few flowers in the process, but it won’t be long before you see the plant fully recover and produce new blooms. Doing this also makes the plant look fresh, which is essential for the beauty of your display. It is possible to shear again in the season, or even three times. 

Now that you have learned more about the deadheading methods for flowers, it is time to turn your attention to its benefits. Doing it right has its upsides: 

It makes the plant look neat

If there is one thing common among all flowers, it is that they turn brown and mushy/dry when they die. This means the overall look of the garden will wane. By deadheading the spent flowers, you get a chance to make the place look neater. 

The plant will conserve energy

Another benefit to removing blooms is that it allows the plant to direct energy towards its health. Some perennial flowers, like peonies and Astilbe bloom, once a year, even if you deadhead them. However, cutting the flower stalks ensures the plant can direct energy to the roots, becoming harder. 

Encourage new flower buds

Deadheading enables flowers to set more buds. What this leads to is an extended blooming season, which is always something you’d want to go after. Most of the annual flowers and a great deal of the perennial plants continue to bloom after being deadheaded. 

Now that you know more about deadheading and how to make the most of it, you can properly employ it as part of your gardening chores. 

© Local Gardeners