IN THE GARDEN
COLD SNAP Mediterranean beds (below) and Eryngium giganteum in the Dry Garden at the Botanic Garden (right)
F or many, gardening in the winter can be a chore: easily forgotten or dismissed in favour of the comfort and warmth of your home. Even if you’ve decided not to garden in winter, there are fleeting moments that all gardeners should savour. I know for me, seed heads bejewelled with glistening frost on a crisp morning lift my spirits. And it is hard to beat those rare occasions when you step into a serene landscape freshly clothed in snow. Such picture-perfect moments are rare in our winters; more often we endure prolonged periods of dull, damp conditions coupled with freezing temperatures, which can have a negative impact on our plants and gardens. Fortunately, there are simple steps gardeners can take to mitigate against winter damage in the garden.
Protecting potted plants Many of us grow plants in pots, and while hardy perennials and shrubs will endure harsh winter conditions, moving potted plants into an unheated greenhouse or tucking them against a building to be sheltered from the elements will limit rain and frost damage. This is particularly helpful for tender perennials such as Salvia ‘Amistad’, if pot grown. If you’re leaving your pot-grown plants outside over winter, it’s also worth sitting them on pot feet, or even bricks, as better compost drainage and air circulating to the roots can help deter root rot. This will also protect your clay and terracotta pots as it keeps them drier and prevents cracking. Though in very cold spells it can also be worth wrapping them in fleece or hessian for a little extra protection.
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2025 93
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