Brits battling the brutal Arctic freeze are searching for ways to keep their homes cosy - but a Royal gardener is reminding us not to forget our leafy friends in these chilly times. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has sounded the alarm that frost may ravage the buds, leaves, flowers and fruits of our cherished plants, with weighty snow possibly snapping branches too. Jack Stooks, a senior gardener who spent over two decades tending to the regal greenery at Highgrove House, is pointing out key steps for guarding our gardens against frostbite.
Representing Alt Index, Jack advised: "Snow and cold can of course harm garden plants. Gardeners can prevent this by protecting their plants in various ways. If the plants are unable to take cold at all then these should be protected in a glass house or shed or even in one's home or conservatory.".
Although a snowy garden vista is enchanting, Jack warns it's "unwise" to let plants stay cloaked in snow simply for the aesthetic appeal. "One should really go around the garden with a small cane and push the snow off any plants," he recommended, stressing that this could avert breakage or other harm.
Furthermore, he added: "Pushing the snow off any neatly cut hedge also protects the integrity of the hedge's shape." When it comes to safeguarding your plants from the frost, Jack recommends using mulch covering on herbaceous perennials, such as achillea, salvia and coneflower.
Mulches are loose coverings or materials that are placed on the surface of soil, according to the RHS. Jack champions compost-based or well-rotted woodchip coverings as effective mulches for frost protection. He added: "Some plants can be protected in the night and colder mornings by covering them with a fleece wrap, which can be purchased in most garden centres.
