First hard-winter in years - what will survive?

amcluesent

I'm not very confident about some plants in terracotta pots kept outside like the agave americana...but everything has been pulled up right against the lounge wall and the thermometer hasn't gone below -2.5 degrees.

I made herculean efforts to protect my tree-fern way back in November, so here's hoping.

I suspect a lot of peeps will be unhappy about their 'Mediterranean' planting scheme come May. :think:

DKLS

I am hoping that not many parasite bugs will survive.

roddydogs

I lost a few precious plants last winter-despite wrapping them well, so goodness knows what will happen this year, i would guess not many Bananas or New Zealand ferns will survive, no matter how well wrapped.

level200

I have a tumble dryer venting out into part of the garden, should i move my more delicate plants near that as it always seems snow free?

peter_the_piper

If they're planted in the ground and established there's a fair chance of survival. If they are in post then there's a risk of losing them. I bet there will be a lot of garden centre sales after the thaw with possibly damaged plants.

alanobrien

Depends what you have and how you have protected them. I have a great deal of tropical plants, bananas, palms, agave, cannas, tree ferns etc etc some tucked up in the greenhouse and the garage. The bigger ones like the tree ferns are fleece covered outside. Its usually frost and rot that does the damage rather than low temperatures. At the minute i expect to lose the washingtonia robusta but not much else. So far i have recorded -10c in the garden, Worst last year was -12c so i am expecting more to come.

Davesnave

As a former nursery person I can only see this winter's effects in a positive light.

Some of those potential customers who'd say to me 'Oh, I'd love to buy something, but I've no more room!' will probably be able to go out and purchase some new plants this summer, especially if they've had some stuff labelled optimistically as 'hardy' by the garden centre or trendy mail-order firm.

Think of it as Plant Scrappage.

Ah, yes, of course, this is a money saving forum.....

Zazen999

My Oregano [supposedly Mediterranean] is in its third year now.....all my hardy but still quite tender stuff was under cloches or fleece anyway and the hardy stuff like garlic/leeks/brassicas are very happy indeed as no whitefly.

I got loads of '20p for 6' grasses a couple of years ago in the snow from B&Q; they all survived after a little tlc.

Lotus-eater

My leeks and brassicas are looking very poorly. The kale looks in it's element however!

lethal0r

im praying for my rosemary and bay leaf plants!!

misskool

does the cold kill slugs?