When the first cold nights of the season arrive, it’s easy to assume your plants will cope on their own. Many do, but tender ones, like young seedlings, tropical plants and anything that’s used to warmth, can be damaged by a sudden chill, especially in northern India and the hills, where frost can appear overnight. The good news is that you don’t need fancy equipment to look after them. A few simple habits, most of which use things already lying around the house, can make the difference between a plant that survives the winter and one that doesn’t. Here are five ways to protect your garden.
Prepare before the cold arrives
Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and act before the temperature drops, not after. On the afternoon before a cold night, water the soil lightly, not the leaves. Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil and releases it slowly overnight, so it keeps the roots a little warmer. Also, skip fertilising in cold weather. It encourages soft new growth, which is the most vulnerable to frost, and it doesn’t make your plants any hardier.
Mulch the roots
A blanket of mulch works like a quilt for the soil. Spread two to four inches of straw, dry leaves, shredded bark or coco peat around the base of each plant, which slows down the loss of heat from the ground and protects the roots. Keep the mulch a little away from the stems, since piling it directly against them can cause rot. It’s one of the cheapest and most effective things you can do.
Cover tender plants before sunset
Heat escapes from the ground fastest right after the sun goes down, so cover your plants early, not after dark. Use frost cloth, old bedsheets, jute sacks or light blankets, and make sure they reach the ground on all sides, then anchor the edges with stones or bricks. If you only have plastic, prop it up on stakes so it doesn’t touch the leaves, because plastic conducts cold straight to them. In the morning, remove the covers by mid-morning so the plants get sunlight.
Move or group your potted plants
Containers are the easiest to protect. Bring them indoors, or to a sheltered spot, such as a covered porch, a balcony corner or against a warm wall. If you can’t move them, group them together so they shelter one another, and lift them off the cold floor onto bricks or pot feet. Indoors, keep them away from cold windows and drafts. Water less often in winter, since plants grow more slowly and the soil stays damp longer.
Be patient after a cold snap
If a plant looks scorched or limp after a frosty night, resist the urge to cut it back right away. Damaged leaves can actually help insulate the healthy growth underneath, and pruning too soon can trigger new shoots just before the next cold spell. Wait until the danger has passed, and until you can see what has survived. Keep watering lightly, and give the plant time to recover. Many plants bounce back more than you’d expect.
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only. How much protection plants need depends on your climate, the plant species and the severity of the cold, so consult a local nursery or horticulture expert for advice suited to your area. Take care when using heaters, lamps or lights near plant covers, as fabric and dry mulch can catch fire.
