What worries me after about 7 to 8 inches of snow and those low temperatures is that my cotinus and tree paeonies had not even shed their leaves yet, and I am wondering how this early winter is going to affect them. I hate to admit it but I was unprepared and many of the edge of hardy plants were left out. In Dover we rarely get such devastating temperatures. Learned my lesson too late.
Thanks for your reply, Adam. Yes it's a bare root plant, bought mail order, still in its original packaging. The suppliers' notes said it would be ok like that for a while, but it had now reached the point where it needed to be planted or heeled in. I had been wondering about the heat-and-light thing, because obviously we are keeping the house as warm as possible with the sub zero temperatures outside. I have now moved the bucket to the only cool corner in the house, where there is very little light, so thanks for that advice.
I have found through the years that "edge of hardy" plants will come through if they have very good root systems, woodsmoke, so do not fear the worst just yet, and do not be too hasty to pull things up as very often, although most of the plant has died off, a late shoot will grow from which you can take cuttings
Hi, my plants are covered in 3 inches of snow, should i remove the snow or leave it as i heard that it may give some protection to the plant underneath? the ground is frozen.
London: My bare root climbing rose has been in a bucket of compost for over a week now, just as the snow (London) began, outside against the west wall of the house., No snow this tiny area but the garden , east/north facing, snowy and cold. Snow now (late 4/12) clearing,,but frost ice now forecast. The bed got ready for it is all new soil, compost, pine chips, and has been covered with a tarpaulin. How long can I keep the rose as it is. Plant or not plant? Thank you.
I have my fingers crossed that the 4 bare rooted fruit trees that arrived just before the first fall of snow will survive. I kept them in the coolest part of the house but still in their bags as I could not get out into cold greenhouse. I have now put them in pots and am now hoping that they will recover come the spring. A couple will need to be re-potted as they are in rather small pots when the warmer weather arrives.
Is Monty Don going to begin by apologising for telling us to buy Mediterranean style plants? He told us they would survive in the ‘Hot’ and ‘Dry’ climate he told us we now have. We hope he will be talking about gardening like Toby did rather than all the theorising about our changing climatic environment. Sometimes it’s hot and sometimes in cold, sometimes it’s wet and sometimes its dry that’s how it’s been during the last seventy years – my life time.
You will break down the structure of your soil by trying to cultivate it in freezing weather, tinypurpleant. Keep off your soil when it is wet or frozen. The worms will cultivate it for you when it is warm enough and annual weeds will be killed by the frost.
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Fingers crossed!
Plant or not plant? Thank you.