Autumn and winter maintenance

As the cold weather sets in it’s best to be prepared and know the effects cold weather can have on your garden. When the frost sets in it causes plant cells to freeze, damaging the cell wall, as a result their growth will become limp, blackened and distorted, it can even cause evergreen plants to turn brown and the leaves of tender plants can take on a translucent appearance. You’ll notice that plants that face the sun are affected the most; this is because they tend to defrost quickly causing the cell walls to rupture. Another factor that greatly affects plants is when the soil becomes frozen, as a results the roots are unable to take up water and therefore they die from lack of moisture.

Minimising the damage

• Avoid more tender plant varieties such as golden or variegated plants.
• Choose plants that are known to be hardy in your area. (Ask your local garden centre for advice).
• Be careful with your choice of fertiliser as those high in nitrogen encourage plants to make lots of leafy growth that makes them particularly vulnerable.
• Plant tender specimens in a sheltered spot to provide them with some heat and protection in the winter, such as under large trees or shrubs.
• Remember not to plant tender flower buds or shoots in east-facing sites.
• Don’t prune the old growth of tender plants over the winter months to give them a little helping hand against the frost as the central crown will be protected and take the brunt of the frost damage.
• Check out where the frost pockets are in your garden, these tend to be the lowest points and make sure you avoid planting tender plants there.

Protect your pond

• The most important task is to ensure there is no decaying vegetation left in the water by regularly removing any dead or dying foliage and prune back the excess growth of submerged plants.
• It is a good idea to place netting over the pond where possible as this will help collect the falling leaves and debris to prevent them from tainting the water.
• During the winter months ice may form on your pond trapping methane gas which can be released from submerged vegetation that is decaying, this could be potentially lethal to fish. Ice may also cause the sides of concrete ponds to crack by exerting excess pressure. So to prevent these problems and to ensure the pond stays ice free, float a ball on the pond’s surface or use an electronic pool heater. Either will ensure just enough heat gets into the pond to keep a small area of open water. 

Protect your plants

• Tender plants growing in open ground; protect with fleece-covered frames or try sandwiching a layer of bracken leaves or straw between plants on frosty evenings. A thick layer of manure mulch, straw or old leaves will prevent your soil from freezing.
• Evergreen plants; keep the soil frost-free and the plants hydrated with a thick layer of mulch around their bases to help them gain moisture in the cold weather.
• Tender plants; grow these plants in pots so they can be moved inside during the bad weather. Take cuttings of the plants that can’t be grown in pots and store these in a warm greenhouse over the winter months ready for planting in the spring.
• Low growing plants; these plants will need specific protection from wet weather. To guarantee speedy drainage, cover them with a sheet of glass or a cloche and surround them with a layer of gravel or grit.
• Outdoor containers; to prevent cracking choose frost-proof containers, insulate them with a layer of bubble wrap or hessian and it may even be worth moving them into the shed or greenhouse for extra protection. Those that are too heavy to move need to be placed on ‘pot feet’ to prevent water logging. Light, free-draining compost will also help.

Dealing with snow

• One benefit of snowfall is that it can protect plants from cold and frost by acting as an insulator.
• It is best to shake excess snow from branches of large trees, shrubs and hedges to prevent any damage from the added weight.
• Make sure enough light is getting into your greenhouse by removing heavy deposits of snow from the roof; this will also prevent any damage to the frame that could bend under the weight.
• To prevent conifers from losing their shape you can support the branches by tying them up with string. It is important that you do this as branches that have been bent away from the tree by the heavy snow will not usually be able to spring back into place once the snow has melted.
• Try not to walk on your lawn when it is covered in snow as this will damage the grass beneath and you’ll be left with marks all over the garden and the damp conditions can also encourage the growth of fungus.