The first frost of the season is fast approaching, and there’s one item you can add to your soil to protect your plants and flowers from the cold weather.
The first frost of the season is fast approaching, and there’s one item you can add to your soil to protect your plants and flowers from the cold weather(Image: ©Tasty food and photography via Getty Images)
Autumn has arrived, providing the ideal opportunity to get your garden ready for winter when temperatures plummet and frost appears. Gardening expert Michael Griffiths has revealed all the essential tasks he completes before the first frost hits, reports the Express.
In a recent TikTok video, Michael stressed how crucial it is to shield plants from frost, as it can cause significant damage to plants and flowers. There’s one essential item you can add to your beds and borders now to stay ahead.
Michael said: “I know it’s getting chilly, but I always try and get these jobs done before winter arrives.”
Add a thick layer of mulch to your beds and borders(Image: Getty)How to protect plants from frost
Not every plant and flower is suitable for winter conditions and may remain dormant for several months to survive. When it comes to safeguarding your plants from the approaching frost, Michael recommended covering beds and borders with mulch.
He said: “It protects roots and gives the soil a lovely boost ready for spring.”
Mulch can be created using a thick layer of bark, decomposed leaves or other organic materials. The mulch acts as insulation for the soil and retains warmth as temperatures begin to fall.
Jacksons Nurseries explained that it’s not necessarily the cold above ground that causes problems, but the freezing and thawing cycle of the soil which can harm plants. Some plants can be over-wintered by completely covering them in mulch, including rose bushes and strawberries.
While prevention is always the best course of action, some plants may still suffer damage and require time to recuperate. One method is to shield them with black plastic that has small holes for ventilation, which can be removed around noon.
Jacksons Nurseries also suggest a liberal application of multi-purpose compost rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to promote robust root growth.
Mulch can also be a boon in curbing weed growth. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, mulch suppresses sunlight necessary for weed seed germination and growth, while also conserving moisture by reducing soil surface evaporation.
The RHS also offers some handy tips on how to properly apply mulch to your garden:
To be effective, biodegradable mulches need to be between at least 5cm (2in) and ideally 7.5cm (3in) thickLay mulches over moist soil, after removing weeds, when the soil is not frozenWhen creating new beds, planting through mulch sheets is effectiveSingle trees and specimen shrubs are best mulched to the radius of the canopyAs it decomposes over time, a biodegradable mulch will feed your plants and microorganisms in the soil reducing the need for additional soluble feedGround covering mediterranean plants such as Thymus species may be best left unmulched as it can hold too much moisture around the stems and foliage
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