SURVIVING THE BIG CHILL
LONG, HARD FROSTS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE... HERE’S HOW TO COPE IN THE COLD
THE arrival of March had me embracing the prospect of warming soil promising great rewards. Then came the ominous forecast. We were going to have snow, the likes of which we hadn’t experienced in decades.
The Beast from the East would play havoc with our routine as we were told to stock up with essentials and retreat indoors, while watching nature do its thing. And that’s what happened.
The snow came in layers, then drifts, creating complete white-outs covering everything in some parts of the country. Spring was suspended.
At times it seemed as if a thaw would never come and I wondered what the garden must look like under that deep covering of snow.
The white stuff rapidly retreated, though, and the garden has survived.
The Buxus sempervirens balls that appeared to be completely crushed by the weight of snow have bounced back, while the echiums that looked to be lifeless have defrosted and look like they may survive after all.
Snow on its own is not so damaging to plants and often can have an insulating effect.
However, the cold that causes plant cells to freeze and then collapse can be very harmful.
In addition, when soil becomes frozen, even hardy varieties can suffer as the cold roots may be unable to take up water and the plants die from a lack of moisture. Buds on early flowering trees such as magnolias may also be harmed.
You can spot injured plants by their limp foliage, blackened or brown leaves and buds.
It’s best to adopt a wait-and-see approach for the moment and when temperatures warm up, cut back frosted growth to a healthy new bud which will prevent further die-back and encourage plants to produce new shoots.
Follow up with a feed of a balanced fertiliser to boost strength and health.
Good mulching in spring and autumn is a preventative measure which acts as a cosy blanket for roots in harsh weather.
If like me you’ve been planting, just check how they are doing.
Sometimes a hard frost can shift the plants upwards out of their planting positions – if this has happened, carefully heel them back in.
If snow settles on unprotected fronds of ferns or palms, shake it off gently with a yard brush.
And if a branch has broken due the weight of snow or storm damage, make a clean cut at an angle, about one inch from the trunk to allow it to heal faster, rather than leaving a jagged tear.
Another area of the garden that suffers during snow is your lawn.
If you like to maintain it in pristine condition, try and avoid walking on it as your weight will cause damage which will increase the possibility of fungus.
Wait for it to thaw completely. Once the area is dry, use a spring tine rake to clear debris and thatch.
If the lawn is very compacted, use an aerator to take up plugs of soil and brush in horticultural sand to aid drainage. In another month feed it to toughen up the roots and green the foliage. Similarly it is better to stay off soil until the thawed snow has drained away as treading on it will cause compaction.
Following the second cold blast at the weekend, let’s hope the old proverb that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb will prove true and that we can all be outside gardening with gusto again by the end of the month!