How to Protect Your Garden from Winter Frost
This guide shows you how to protect your plants, pots and outdoor taps before frost arrives. You'll learn how to work out which plants are at risk, which ones to lift or move, and how to wrap, mulch and cover the rest. It's written for ordinary gardens, with no heated greenhouse needed. The main job takes an afternoon, then it's a quick check after each cold night.
When
Before First Frost
Difficulty
Easy
Hands-on time
2 hours
You'll need
- ✓Horticultural fleece
- ✓Bubble wrap
- ✓Pot feet
- ✓Straw or chipped bark
- ✓Garden twine
- ✓Bamboo canes
- ✓Insulated tap cover
Dan's Tip
Look after the roots first and the leaves second. In pots, it's the compost freezing solid that does the damage, so pot feet and a wrap of bubble wrap do more good than a pile of fleece on top.
Step by step guide
Check the Frost Forecast
Frost forms on clear, still nights, and the ground gets colder than the air above it. If the forecast low is between 0°C and 4°C with little cloud and light wind, treat it as a frost night. Check the forecast each evening from late October.
Sort Your Plants Into Three Groups
Make three piles: tender plants to lift or move, borderline plants to wrap or mulch, and hardy plants to leave alone. The hardiness rating on the label helps. H2 plants won't survive any frost, H3 plants suit mild areas down to about -5°C, and H4 and above are hardy through most of the UK. Treat it as a guide, as cold or exposed gardens can catch out even hardy plants.
10 more steps, plus winter care, common mistakes, troubleshooting and FAQs
Buy this guide outright, or join the club and get every guide in the library.
Already a member? Sign in