Do plants need blankets in winter? Ideally not. “The true time to assist a plant that can be hurt by cold is before you plant it,” the gardening columnist Henry Mitchell believed. What he meant by that was you should choose plants suited to your climate, give them well-drained soil, and protect them from overhanging trees prone to dropping branches in snowstorms.
But life is not always ideal. Some winters an unexpected frost, record temperatures, or prolonged cold spells can damage your garden. Or you may be the sort of gardener who gave in to temptation, unable to resist the charms of a “tender” plant better suited to a slightly warmer growing zone. You owe it to your fragile specimen to keep it alive.
Plant protection in winter can take many forms: you can warm the soil, you can wrap a shrub, you can block the wind. Here are 10 ideas to keep your plants happy in the cold, dark months:
Burlap Plant Cover

Jute Sack

Soil Warmer

See more in Studio Visit: Glasshouse Flowers with India Hurst of Vervain.
Landscape Fabric

Fleece Jacket

Fleece Blanket

Hoop House

Frost Protection Cloth

Polytunnel

Curtains for Planters

- Garden Hacks: 10 Genius Ideas to Hide the Air Conditioner
- Hide the Trash Cans: 10 Ideas to Help
- Garden Hacks: 10 Ways to Use Wire Cloches
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation