Gardening – Winter care

It looks likely that this will be a cold winter if autumn temperatures are anything to go by. Maybe not in terms of overall average temperatures, but certainly in terms of some hard cold snaps. Many gardeners have been lulled into a false sense of security over the past few years with consistently warm, if somewhat wet, winters. It’s been a while since we have had hard frosts, but rest assured, despite overall global temperatures increasing, polar vortices can and do move into our latitudes from time to time.

So, what are the implications for gardeners in this situation? Well, it’s not all bad. For a start, cooler climate trees such as plums, apricots, peaches and apples will flower better this coming spring, and with decent pollination conditions, that will lead to a good crop. Some bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, also prefer a colder winter and will produce more and better-quality flowers once the weather warms again. I might even leave my peony pot outside rather than putting it in the fridge for winter.

More crucially, many pests will take a hammering during frosty conditions, particularly those of subtropical or tropical origins like tomato psyllid, guava moth, armyworms and passion-vine hoppers, so fingers crossed these will be less of a problem next summer. Some diseases will also take a bit of a hit, such as rust fungi. However, this is balanced by an increase in plant loss due to root diseases such as phytophthora, which attack weakened or damaged tissue.

This leads me to one of the most important tasks for gardeners leading into winter – make sure your plants have the best drainage possible, as nothing kills plants faster than cold, wet feet. Cut field drains or swales between trees or around the edge of the garden if that is possible. Building raised beds for any gardens and even trees that are on soggy ground is also effective at improving drainage. However, this should be done earlier in the season so the root systems have time to adjust to the change in soil height.

Mulching gardens and trees with woody mulch helps in several ways. The organic matter helps break up the soil particles and it improves drainage, provides food for soil micro-organisms that compete with root rots, and the blanket of mulch helps insulate the roots from the cold. Don’t mulch with materials that will turn soggy and mushy though, as this will aggravate the root rot issues.

Any plants that are prone to cold or frost damage will probably need covering to pull through this winter. The best way to cover plants is to use frost cloth that is suspended over the plant, rather than in direct contact. Old umbrellas make a great frame for covering individual plants and I’ve recycled a cheap 9×3 metre gazebo by duct taping the joints, anchoring the legs with sturdy ground pegs and covering it in an insect mesh that doubles as a light frost cloth. Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for protecting your precious plants.