RHS Provides Winter Gardening tips as Temperatures Drop

As winter settles in with low temperatures and snow, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shares valuable winter gardening tips for gardeners to ready themselves for the coldest months of the year.

With freezing temperatures already hitting many regions, plants accustomed to warmer climates, such as begonias and pelargoniums, need to be relocated or shielded to prevent damage. Conversely, plants from colder regions fortify against frost damage by filling their cells with natural ‘antifreeze’ in the form of sugars. Brussels sprouts, for example, taste sweeter after a frost due to this ‘antifreeze.’

Hardy plants require gradual acclimatization; a sudden shift from a mild autumn to cold weather can cause severe damage. Moderately cold weather allows hardy plants to prepare for harsher conditions, ensuring they can withstand temperatures as low as -8°C without harm. Snow damage is usually manageable, and once fallen, snow acts as insulation for the ground.

Key tasks for gardeners in cold weather include:

1. Bring tender plants indoors to conservatories, greenhouses, homes, and sheds.
2. Repair greenhouses by fixing cracks and gaps, using biodegradable fleece and recycled bubble wrap for insulation and to keep plants dry.
3. Wrap outdoor tender plants, like bananas and tree ferns, with chicken wire and straw, topped with recycled polythene for moisture protection.
4. Harvest frost-prone produce, store under cover, and cover winter leeks, parsnips, carrots, and pumpkins with suitable materials like cardboard, fleece, or woodchips.
5. Shake evergreen branches after snowfall to prevent breakage, and consider removing or shaking off snow from fine netting on fruit cage roofs.
6. Leave vegetation intact as long as possible to provide shelter for insects and food for birds.
7. Refill bird feeders, position bird boxes, and be cautious with bonfires to avoid disturbing hibernating creatures like hedgehogs.
8. Turn off outside water supplies, drain features, and lag undrainable parts. For ponds, a floating ball prevents freezing in a particular area.

Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, emphasizes the importance of taking key steps to prepare the garden for winter, ensuring the protection of plants and extending the window for enjoying homegrown produce. He advises a bit of repair work and a tidy-up, balancing it with leaving some vegetation for wildlife shelter and sustenance.