Top Plant Protection
Plants die from too much water more often than any other cause.
Frost and cold damage is the worst winter killer so take precautions.
As a careless gardener I dig up the wrong thing at times and I should protect my plants by taking more care and marking the location of plants that die back.
Keep dormant plants dry
- Potted plants that become dormant need to be kept dry to avoid root rot.
- Put a cover of glass or slate over pots of Eucomis and Rhodohypoxis
- Dahlias and Cannas can be listed or left in pots under the shelter of a house roof
Mulch
- Cover alpines with a mulch of fine grit. The leaves of Lewisia and other small plants can suffer in the wet.
- Perennial bulbs of dubious hardiness can be left in the ground if covered with a thick mulch. Hold it down with chicken wire if the area is windy.
- A thick covering of garden compost protects my hardy Fuchsias, Delphiniums and Peonies through winter.
Wrap and Cosset
- Tree ferns need to be wrapped in hessian or have a straw blanket wrapped around the crown.
- Keep the wrapping open for good air circulation or the plant may rot.
- A wind break can have a surprisingly good effect in protecting some plants.
- Banana plants should have the trunk well wrapped. The roots will withstand some cold.
- Fleece is a good blanket for use during inclement conditions.
Shelter
- It may seem obvious that a greenhouse can offer winter shelter to tender plants.
- Agave and Agapanthus will benefit from being under cover during winter.
- Indoor plants should stay indoors, that is why they are called houseplants. Keep them off cold window sills in winter.
- Fuchsias and Pelargoniums should be lifted and brought in to a frost free area.