Frost protection

y9jcbcrb

Now that the winter is coming and morning frosts are not far around the corner, i was wondering if there is a way of protecting more sensitive plants reasonably cheaply?

I am totally new to gardening and this summer i have worked hard at creating my own urban oasis by digging out a couple boarders and planting up pots. I think that a couple of the plants (mostly potted) i bought warned against letting the frost get to them. I dont have a greenhouse, just a shed and i cant bring any pots into my conservatory due to two naughty little kittens.

Has anyone any suggestions?

alanobrien

Garden fleece is the obvious answer, and people also use bubble wrap, especially to insulate greenhouses and other storage spaces. You can get garden fleece from most of the DIY sheds and garden centres, also fairly cheaply from ebay.

Peartree

It does depend what the plants are and where they are situated in your garden. Most parts of the country rarely get an extended heavy frost these days. If it is a plant which is dormant in the winter, and in a container, protecting the roots is the main thing, which you can do by wrapping the pot so it doesn't conduct the cold. Pretty much anything insulating will do but unless you're in a very dry area beware of swaddling a plant or pot in something that will trap in too much moisture, for an extended period of time. I find that I have more trouble with plants getting too wet in winter than suffering from the cold (but I do live in Lancashire)- I've given up on succulent types as no matter what I do they throw in the towel and rot over the winter! And unless you've got some really sensitive tropical types, most plants are more resilient to cold than you think. I've got all sorts of mediterranean types in pots on my terrace which have been fine for years - I'd only dash out with the insulation if it was going to quite a few degrees below. Famous last words as I'm sure someone will tell me!

Jake'sGran

I have a potting shed with light and the heat the equivalent of two light bulbs. Most things in there do survive but in my unheated greenhouse I do lose things every year. I agree with Peartree in that it does depend what the plants are. Some could be cut back (you need to check in a reference book) and then you could heap some bark chippings or peat around them and put them in a sheltered corner. If frost is forecast you can cover plants with fleece or newspaper. Our winters have been getting milder and I have managed to get some so called tender fuschias to survive outside. If possible put your pots against the wall of the house in the sunniest location. If you have bought very tender plants it will be hard to keep them over winter without a bit of warmth.

vangirl_2

Hi, Please dont use bubble wrap on your pots the water seeps in and is unable to escape. The plant sweats and rots. Use pot feet or wood 2 keep them of the ground.