In addition to the above, don't move soil about when there's frost in it. You'll turn the cold in and it'll chill the soil and take much longer to warm up than if it remained on the surface.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Don't be too quick with the "tidying up" of plants whilst there is still a threat of freezing temps. The old/dead growth can act as protection
Old, dead growth and things like dead hydrangea flower heads may keep a gentle late spring ground frost at bay. But will not protect from a good, hard several-night below zero winter freeze
The OP mentioned freezing overnight but a little warmer the following day. I have no idea whether or not Hampshire is going to be frozen solid for the next few weeks and I assume you don't either ? You have to take each location into account and act accordingly - here in the SW with several nights of below freezing hasn't stopped my Hellebores ( not "tidied up" ) from coming into flower. It's not possible to categorically state Do or Don't in someone else's garden. There are so many things to consider. If you disagree with general advice, that's fine.
Stay off the lawn. )Unless you walk on a board/pank. Stay off the ground.) Do not do any pruning. No digging No planting in open ground. If you have cleaning jobs,ie greenhouse washng down, pot washing, tool cleaning and oiling etc. Fine. Path clearing fine. We nearly always have a freeze spell in Feb. so I never plan to do much outside until March at the very earliest. I never clear dead growth from the tops of plants as in my book, it gives protection. Shortening back by half in Sept./Oct. to avoid wind rock is my system. My ginger lilies look a real mess, stems and leaves all over the place but I know the tubers are safely tucked up underneath the dead stuff. I did most of my fruit pruning in August so none to do now.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
2. You've got it. The cycles are significant. The thaws do more damage than the freezes.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
You have to take each location into account and act accordingly - here in the SW with several nights of below freezing hasn't stopped my Hellebores ( not "tidied up" ) from coming into flower.
It's not possible to categorically state Do or Don't in someone else's garden. There are so many things to consider.
If you disagree with general advice, that's fine.
Stay off the ground.)
Do not do any pruning.
No digging
No planting in open ground.
If you have cleaning jobs,ie greenhouse washng down, pot washing, tool cleaning and oiling etc. Fine.
Path clearing fine.
We nearly always have a freeze spell in Feb. so I never plan to do much outside until March at the very earliest. I never clear dead growth from the tops of plants as in my book, it gives protection.
Shortening back by half in Sept./Oct. to avoid wind rock is my system.
My ginger lilies look a real mess, stems and leaves all over the place but I know the tubers are safely tucked up underneath the dead stuff.
I did most of my fruit pruning in August so none to do now.