With ongoing freezer like temperatures in the garden there is very little real gardening going on. It is more a case of brief visits to enjoy our icy vista with some protecting, salvaging and shedding icy tears as we deal with losses to our prized plants. Even with the usual measures of using horticultural fleece,mulching, placing plants in covered areas we have seen experienced our own casualties.
However there are precautions you can take to ensure you wont have to replace those prized plants.
- Tender plants can be wrapped in horticultural fleece. If not done already the plant may have sustained damage. If you can move them to a sheltered spot.
- For any plants that have experienced frost damage wait until spring before carrying out pruning.
- Knock off snow from evergreens and hedges but make sure you are well wrapped I can recall giving myself a good covering in snow as I knocked the snow off my Trachycarpus Fortunei.
- If you haven’t already added mulch it is not recommended that you mulch frozen soil.
- For plants in containers bubble wrap works well to insulate roots, however if not already in place if you can move the pot into a sheltered area. It is best to avoid watering plants in containers until the weather improves.
- Where you can avoid walking on frosty and snow covered grass unless you are making a snowman.
- By leaving pruning on some shrubs protects the lower buds and shoots.
- For those lucky enough to have a green house ensure you keep the temperature at the desired level.
- Learn from your mistakes and make sure you plan ahead next year.
Our unheated and very cold greenhouse with a very tough and acclimatised Olive tree outside.
So while this weather continues I shall enjoy images such as this, grasses and frost a gorgeous combination and continue to feed the ever growing number of hungry birds particularly that cheeky robin that knocks on the window to get my attention.