Winter plant care: Essential tips to protect your garden

Winter is an exceptionally difficult period for garden plants. Low temperatures, freezing winds, and lack of moisture make it hard for many plants to survive until spring. Frost can damage roots and stems, which ultimately leads to plant death. Additionally, plants are less resistant to diseases and pests in winter.

Protection from winter pests is as important as protection from frost. Some insects, like aphids, can survive in the form of eggs in the soil or on plants, ready to attack in the spring. Properly protecting plants before winter reduces the risk of pest infestation and the development of fungal diseases, which can be difficult to combat later.

While many people protect plants right after the season ends, it is recommended to wait until the first frosts. Wrapping plants too early can have negative effects. Cooler temperatures help plants harden off and prepare for winter.

Basic materials needed to protect plants include garden fleece, straw, bark, sawdust, and protective films. Garden fleece is especially recommended for protecting shoots and leaves because it allows air circulation and prevents scalding. Bark and sawdust are useful for mounding around the base of plants, protecting the roots from freezing.

When protecting plants, it's good to start with mounding the base of the plant. For example, hydrangeas or roses can be protected by mounding bark or sawdust around them, which shields the roots from low temperatures. Next, you can proceed to wrap the plants with garden fleece, being careful not to do it too tightly. It's important that the material adheres to the plant but also allows for air flow.

How to avoid common mistakes when protecting plants?

One of the most common mistakes gardeners make is protecting plants for winter either too early or too late. Wrapping plants too early can lead to overheating and delayed hardening, increasing the risk of freezing. The best time to protect plants is just after the first frosts when plant diseases are no longer active and plants have hardened.

Conversely, protecting them too late exposes plants to the first strong frosts, which can damage roots and stems. Therefore, it's crucial to monitor weather forecasts and protect plants at the right time.

Choosing improper protective materials is another common mistake. Not all materials are suitable for protecting plants. For example, plastic film can cause scalding and rot due to lack of air circulation. It is recommended to use air-permeable materials such as garden fleece, straw, bark, or sawdust, which effectively protect against frost without blocking air flow.

It is important to remember that each plant has its specific requirements, so it is worth tailoring protection methods to specific species. This way, our plants will be healthy and bloom abundantly in the next season.