Protecting Your Plants from Frost

When winter temperatures drop, frost can cause serious damage to tender shoots, buds, and roots.

Even hardy plants can struggle when sudden cold snaps arrive after mild weather.

Knowing which plants need protection — and how to give it — helps your garden stay healthy through winter and bounce back beautifully in spring.

Some plants are naturally hardy, while others are vulnerable to cold and ice.

Here’s a quick guide to which ones need extra care.

🌺 Tender Perennials & Summer Bedding Plants 🌺

Tip: Lift tender tubers and bulbs before the first frost and store them in a dry, frost-free place.

🌴 Mediterranean & Tropical 🌴

Tip: Move container plants into a greenhouse, conservatory, or sheltered spot. Wrap pots with fleece or hessian to protect the roots.

🌱 Young Shrubs & Newly Planted Trees 🌱

Even hardy species like lavender, bay, and laurel can suffer frost damage before they become established.

Tip: Apply a mulch around the base to protect the roots, and cover the top growth with fleece during hard frosts.

Move Pots Indoors or Against Walls
Bring tender plants inside if possible. Otherwise, place them near house walls where heat radiates at night.
Use Horticultural Fleece or Frost Covers
Cover vulnerable plants with fleece, cloches, or cold frames to trap warmth and prevent frost from settling on leaves.
Apply a Layer of Mulch
Spread bark, compost, or straw around the base of plants to insulate the roots and hold in warmth.
Water Before Frost
Moist (but not waterlogged) soil retains heat better than dry soil. Watering lightly the day before a frost can reduce root damage.
Avoid Early Pruning
Pruning too soon encourages soft new growth that’s easily damaged. Wait until spring for any major cutting back.

Take off covers during the day when temperatures rise above freezing so plants can get light and air.

Replace covers at night if frost is expected.

As spring arrives, gradually remove all protection to allow plants to harden off naturally.