The first frost is a sharp reminder that winter is upon us. For some people, it’s a key deadline because it’s the moment when tender plants like cannas die back. But frost can also cause damage to garden tools, equipment and structures. By planning ahead, you can sleep easily when there is frost in the forecast.
Sheds and outbuildings
Using uninsulated sheds and outbuildings for storage can create more problems than it solves, particularly for items that are sensitive to extremes of temperature and humidity. Goods kept in a shed can also be vulnerable to pests, mould and dust. Garden cushions and umbrellas can be affected by damp, taking on a musty odour that is difficult to get rid of. By putting your soft garden furnishings into storage over winter, you can be sure that they will be in good condition when you need them again in the spring.
You may also want to use the shed for overwintering dahlias or other roots. A shed can be a good place to carry out garden tasks on cold or wet days. Or if it has a window it could be used for hardening off seedlings so you can get an early start on the planting next spring.
Saving your plants
Smaller tender plants can be moved under glass, either in a green house or inside your house. Others can be preserved by taking cuttings.
But larger plants must take their chances in the garden. When frost threatens, use horticultural fleece to protect them overnight, but remove it when the freeze ends because it can prevent what little sunlight there is getting to your plants.
The cold can damage the roots of potted plants, so protect containers with a layer of bubble wrap, straw or sacking. If possible, move pots to a sheltered spot. Mulching can help insulate soil so that it doesn’t freeze solid.
Examples of tender plants that need protection from frost include:
- tree ferns
- salvias, cannas and penstemons
- palms
Garden waterworks and frost
Hoses and watering systems can suffer during a freeze because water expands, resulting in cracks and leaks. Disconnect hoses, empty them and store them coiled and under cover in a shed or storage unit.
Drain decorative water features overwinter to prevent cracking. Floating a ball in a pond will keep the ice from completely covering the surface.
If you have a swimming pool, then now is the time to winterise it. Here is our blogpost on what you need to do to get your swimming pool ready for winter.
Lawncare ahead of winter
Longer grass tends to do better in frost, so for the last few cuts, raise the mower blades. Clear everything off your lawn ahead of a cold snap – walking on frozen grass will result in long-lasting footprints, so think about pathways in frosty weather. Although it’s better for your lawn to rake off dead leaves, keeping some detritus and dead material on the ground creates shelter for beneficial insects and other minibeasts.
Other things to put away at the end of autumn
Some garden furniture can be left out over winter – but you can extend its life and save yourself a cleaning job in the spring by covering it or putting it under shelter.
Barbecues and other garden cooking equipment should be put away for winter. You can overwinter a barbecue and a pizza oven in your storage unit – but you should keep gas bottles at home in a ventilated outdoor space, according to Calor.
Anything kept in a public storage unit will usually need to be insured – it’s often part of the terms and conditions with the storage company. Get a quote from Store and Insure to see if you can save on your overwinter self-storage insurance.
Preparing your garden ahead of the first frost will give you peace of mind when the weather turns colder.
