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Winter can bring a challenging combination of frost, prolonged cold, heavy rain, strong winds and snow. Many hardy garden plants cope perfectly well without additional protection, but tender plants, those growing in containers and plants in exposed positions may need a little help.
Good winter plant protection starts with understanding what poses the greatest risk to each plant. Sometimes that means protecting it from frost, but improving drainage, providing shelter from wind or moving a container may be just as important.
How much winter protection a plant needs depends on both the plant itself and where it is growing. A plant that is perfectly hardy in one garden may be more vulnerable in an exposed position or when grown in a container.
Plant hardiness gives a useful indication of how well a plant can cope with low temperatures, but it isn’t the whole story. Soil conditions, exposure, the length of a cold spell and whether a plant is growing in the ground or a container can all affect how well it comes through winter.
Plants that may benefit from additional protection include:
A hardy plant in a sheltered, well-drained position may need no attention at all, while the same plant in an exposed container could be much more vulnerable.
Frost tends to get most of the attention, but winter damage has several possible causes.
Freezing temperatures can damage plant cells, particularly in tender plants and young growth. Repeated freezing and thawing can also cause damage, while rapid thawing of frozen plant tissue can be harmful.
Cold, waterlogged soil can be particularly troublesome for plants that need good drainage. Mediterranean plants and many plants with fleshy roots, bulbs, rhizomes or tubers can struggle if they remain excessively wet for long periods.
Strong winter winds can damage stems and branches, loosen plants at the roots and increase moisture loss from evergreen foliage. This can leave leaves scorched or browned even when the plant itself is sufficiently hardy for the temperature.
A light covering of snow is not necessarily harmful, but heavy accumulations can weigh down branches and damage shrubs, hedges and small trees.
Understanding which of these conditions presents the greatest risk makes it much easier to choose the right protection.
Plants growing in containers often need more winter protection than the same plants growing in the ground. Their roots are surrounded by a relatively small volume of compost and are therefore more exposed to changes in temperature.
Drainage is equally important. Pots that remain saturated through cold weather can leave roots vulnerable to damage and rotting.
Before winter:
A sheltered wall can provide a useful position for some pots, particularly during spells of very wet or cold weather. However, don’t assume that every container should simply be kept dry. Evergreen plants can continue to lose water during winter and containers positioned under cover may occasionally need watering.
👉 Expert Tip: Check pots during prolonged dry spells, particularly evergreen plants under the shelter of a wall, greenhouse or porch. Winter watering should be based on the condition of the compost rather than the calendar.
Plants that cannot reliably tolerate frost are often safer under cover for winter. Depending on the plant, suitable places might include a greenhouse, conservatory, cold frame or another frost-free location.
The right conditions depend on whether the plant remains in active growth.
Evergreen plants still need adequate light, while some fully dormant plants can be stored in cooler conditions with much lower light levels. Plants kept under cover also need less water during winter, although their compost should still be checked periodically.
Move vulnerable plants before damaging frosts arrive rather than waiting until they have already been affected.
Where moving a plant is impractical, temporary protection outdoors may be possible, depending on its hardiness and your local conditions.
Horticultural fleece is useful for providing additional protection against frost, cold winds and other harsh weather. It can be placed over groups of plants or secured around individual vulnerable specimens.
Different grades provide different levels of protection, so fleece should not be regarded as a guarantee that a tender plant will survive any temperature. It is most useful for providing a modest extra layer of protection during cold spells.
When using fleece:
Fleece can also provide useful extra protection inside an unheated greenhouse during particularly cold weather.
👉 Expert Tip: Keep a piece of horticultural fleece ready rather than waiting for the first severe frost forecast. Temporary protection can then be put in place quickly when temperatures are expected to fall.
A layer of mulch over the soil can help insulate roots and crowns from severe cold while also protecting the soil surface from heavy winter weather.
Suitable materials depend on the plant and situation, but may include:
Mulching can be particularly useful around tender perennials and plants whose crowns or underground parts are being left outside for winter.
It is important, however, to distinguish between protecting roots from cold and solving poor drainage. A mulch cannot make a waterlogged planting position suitable for a plant that needs free-draining soil.
Some tender plants survive winter underground in mild, sheltered gardens but are at greater risk in colder or wetter locations.
Dahlias and cannas are familiar examples. Depending on the garden and local conditions, they may either be left in the ground beneath a generous protective mulch or lifted after the foliage has been affected by the first frost. If lifted, allow them to dry before storing them somewhere cool, dry and frost-free until they can be replanted.
If your soil is heavy and remains wet throughout winter, leaving tender underground parts in the ground may be less successful than it would be in a sheltered garden with free-draining soil.
The best approach therefore depends on both the plant and the conditions in which it is growing.
Winter wind can cause physical damage as well as making cold conditions more challenging for plants.
Before the worst winter weather arrives, check:
Shelter can make a significant difference in exposed gardens. Hedges and other permeable barriers can filter strong winds, while careful positioning can create more protected areas for vulnerable plants.
Avoid creating a completely solid barrier purely to stop the wind. Wind moving over and around solid structures can create turbulence elsewhere in the garden.
Snow does not automatically need to be removed from every plant. However, a heavy accumulation can bend or break branches, particularly on evergreens and plants with a dense framework.
If branches are being weighed down, carefully remove loose accumulations before their weight causes damage. Avoid rough handling of frozen branches, which can be brittle.
Once the snow has cleared, inspect trees and shrubs for damaged or broken branches and deal with them appropriately when conditions allow.
After severe frost, foliage may become brown, blackened or limp. It can be tempting to cut damaged growth away immediately, but waiting is often the better approach.
Leaving damaged top growth in place can provide some protection to the rest of the plant if further cold weather follows. Once the risk of severe frost has passed and new growth begins, you can assess the true extent of the damage and remove dead material.
This is particularly useful with plants that are slightly tender or prone to winter dieback.
The easiest plant to protect over winter is often one that is already growing in conditions that suit it.
When adding new plants to your garden, consider more than their appearance in summer. Think about:
Plants from Mediterranean climates, for example, often cope much better with cold when their roots are in free-draining soil. A borderline-hardy plant against a warm, sheltered wall can experience very different winter conditions from the same plant in exposed, wet ground.
Matching plants to the conditions in your garden reduces the amount of winter protection they are likely to need year after year.
Preparing plants before severe winter weather arrives can prevent many of the problems caused by frost, wet conditions and strong winds. The right protection will depend on the plants you grow and the conditions in your own garden.
Visit us in Kington for horticultural fleece, pot feet, mulches and other winter plant protection products, as well as friendly advice on helping your garden through the colder months.
