The winter can be a hard time on our plants, trees and shrubs and even the ones that we think of as sturdy need some extra TLC. Strong winds can be especially problematic too, so if you have a tree that looks like it’s in risk of toppling over during these conditions contact one of our tree surgeons in Manchester for advice.
It goes without saying that some plants will need bringing indoors come winter, or at least putting in a greenhouse. These types of plants are the ones you would typically find in warmer climates, so if you have any tropical species it’s best to bring them inside.
But even plants native to Britain need a little bit of love, especially young trees that may have recently been planted. Typically you’re always advised to plant new trees in the spring, once the colder weather has died off, as it allows them to ‘bed in’. If you do plant something new late on in the season however, you should take extra care to ensure they make it through the winter.
Follow our tips on how to protect your tress from ice, frost and snow below.
Before we get started, here are some plants that you should definitely up-root and bring inside, or at least wrap them if you’re going to leave them outdoors.
What plants need to be brought inside in the winter?
- Banana Plants
- Ginger Plants
- Most ‘tropical’ or desert plants
Bringing in the plants above isn’t the end of your winter jobs though, because all types of plants need an extra bit of love, even your oldest ones.
Protecting your plants from frost, ice and snow
- Many types of plants such as evergreens will benefit from a thick layer of mulch around their bases to keep the soil frost-free. This will allow them to take up moisture during periods of cold weather and stop them from becoming dehydrated.
- If snow is expected it’s best to cover any smaller plants. While you can get specific covers from the garden centre anything will do, so feel free to use an old blanket or anything you have lying around, using bamboo sticks to hold it up over the plant.
- Most trees native to Britain are used to the colder weather and can mostly be left to their own devices, where you do need to watch them however is in strong winds. If your tree looks like it’s blowing around a lot, or it’s a new tree that doesn’t yet have a sturdy base use a weighty pole to hold it in place and give it extra stability.
As well as following the above tips is a good idea to take extra notice of your plants during the winter and if any are looking slightly worse for wear consider bringing it inside (if they’re potted). Otherwise consider wrapping the base of your plants and always make sure they’ve had enough water. Although we’re used to a lot of rain in England, we can still go for period in winter without having any and just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean your plants don’t need a drink.