With the Met Office issuing yellow and amber severe weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, gardeners may be worried about safeguarding their gardens during this period.
Lee Heitzman, the UK and Ireland market manager at Trex, has offered guidance on how to protect your garden during this challenging time.
Suggestions range from utilizing common household items to shield plants, to securing garden furniture to prevent it from being blown away, ensuring your garden’s resilience this winter.
“Moving vulnerable potted plants to sheltered areas and covering frost-sensitive plants with horticultural fleece or an old bedsheet can be effective,” advises Lee.
Adding a layer of mulch around plant bases protects roots from freezing, and shaking snow off tree and plant branches during heavy snowfall helps prevent breakages.
Before storms or snowfall, clearing gutters and drains is recommended to avoid waterlogging. Raising pots using feet or bricks can help prevent water pooling.
To prevent losing items to severe weather, securing loose items and storing lightweight items like cushions and plant pots is advised in case of high winds. Checking and repairing loose fence panels, posts, and trellises beforehand is essential.
For those concerned about greenhouses, purchasing netting or bubble wrap can provide additional protection.
Clearing snow from decking promptly to prevent slips and falls is crucial. Using calcium chloride or rock salt to melt snow and ice from deck surfaces, while scraping gently to avoid damage, is suggested.
Lee also emphasizes caring for garden visitors like hedgehogs, badgers, and birds during storms. Keeping bird baths ice-free and ensuring bird feeders are filled with seeds can provide essential water and food sources during turbulent weather.
Finally, hanging bird boxes out now can offer shelter to birds seeking refuge.
