Some plants are so tough that you can leave them in your garden unprotected all year round. And nothing will happen to them. Because they are hardy and therefore ready for harsh winter conditions. However, there are also plants that we need to hide inside our house or apartment before the first frost. And then there is a third group of plants, and these are the ones that can survive the winter outdoors, but we have to give them a little help.
Protecting plants that we grow in containers
It’s clear that plants we grow in containers, such as pots, are much more susceptible to frost burn. This is because their roots are not as protected as those of plants grown in the ground. Therefore, it is advisable to move these plants to somewhere that does not freeze. Typically, this is a cooler room, but one with light. Plants without inflorescences will quickly get used to the lighter watering and will overwinter.
What to look out for
Plants that we bring inside to protect them from frost need to be checked well. We look for the following problems on them:
- Pests, such as aphids. if we stored the plant with them, then they would multiply quickly and attack other plants we store. Soapy water is very effective against aphids.
- Any signs of disease (blackened leaves, fungus) need to be dealt with. The reason is the same: you could spread these diseases to healthy plants.
Protecting plants that are grown loose in the soil
We protect plants that are not very hardy from frost. This can be, for example, some hardy fruit trees such as figs, or simply young plants that do not yet have such a strong root system. Protect the plants by covering them with plant materials such as straw, leaves or twigs. Non-woven fabric is also suitable.