Frost-ready: a quick November checklist to protect your plants

Shwmae, everyone!

Last week we shared our big November to-do list. This week we're zooming in on the one job that really can't wait: getting ready for frost. Across much of the UK the first frosts tend to arrive around now, often on a clear, still night after a bright day. Ten minutes of prep now saves a lot of heartache later, so here's our quick checklist.

1. Keep an eye on the forecast

Clear skies and no wind are the warning signs. A weather app with the overnight low is all you need. If it's heading towards zero, it's time to act.

2. Have fleece ready

Keep a roll of horticultural fleece by the back door. Drape it over tender plants in the evening and weigh the edges down with stones. Take it off in the morning so plants get the light. Try not to let plastic sheeting touch the leaves, as it gives very little protection.

3. Lift your pots

Soggy compost freezes solid, which can crack pots and damage roots. Raise containers on pot feet or a couple of bricks so they drain freely, and move them to a sheltered spot against the house, where it's often a degree or two warmer. Grouping pots together helps them keep each other cosy.

4. Wrap the pot, not just the plant

Roots in a pot are far more exposed than roots in the ground. For the coldest spells, wrap containers in hessian, an old blanket or bubble wrap.

5. Give tender plants a helping hand

Our date palm is semi frost hardy, so young plants need some help in their first winters. Bring potted ones indoors, or give planted ones a thick mulch and a layer of frost-proof fabric. Once they're well established, they're much tougher.

6. Mulch your beds

A thick blanket of peat-free compost, leaf mould or bark over the roots keeps the soil temperature steadier. Spread it while the ground is moist and not yet frozen.

7. Put the secateurs away

Save most pruning for late winter or spring. Fresh cuts are easily damaged by frost, and old growth helps shelter the crown of the plant. Besides, seed heads look beautiful with a coat of frost.

8. Stay off frosty lawns

Walking on frozen grass bruises it and leaves dark footprints that can linger for weeks. Wait until it thaws, then carry on.

Looking for something that shrugs off the cold? Fatsia japonica is a frost hardy evergreen that's happy in sun or shade, and you'll find plenty more tough plants in our plants for November, all grown peat-free in Wenvoe.

Until next time, happy gardening!
Garden City Cymru