A quick, simple action the minute it settles can spare your garden.
As cold snaps sweep across the UK, many gardeners look to fleece, cloches and last‑minute mulching to keep borders safe. Yet experts say a single, immediate step when it actually starts to snow can stop the worst damage before it begins.
Heavy flurries pile on weight, bend limbs and leave split wood that is hard to repair cleanly. The Royal Horticultural Society has reupped its winter guidance with a back‑to‑basics reminder that costs nothing, while other specialists share low‑cost ways to protect pots on icy nights. The move is simple.
Snow on hedges and branches, the quick move that changes everything
The RHS is clear that snowfall itself does much of the harm, not just freezing air. When it settles on crowns and along flat hedge tops, the weight drags stems downward until they crack. In plain terms, you need to act as the flakes build.
The RHS says « If snow sits on hedges or the crowns of trees there is a danger of branches breaking. Shake off excess snow as it starts to build up on branches, and prune hedges to taper at the top to minimise snow damage. » That first instruction happens the moment you see a coating.
Shake, do not thump. A gentle upward motion under each branch helps the snow slough away without snapping brittle wood. For hedges, a slightly tapered shape gives snow less to cling to, which reduces the chance of sagging tops and broken sides during repeat flurries.
Pruning to a taper, the small winter tweak that pays off
Think of a hedge like a pitch roof. A modest lean towards the sky encourages snow to slide away rather than sit and saturate. If you have time before the next band of showers, tidy the top line so it narrows a touch. Avoid ragged cuts in hard freezes, and keep tools clean so wounds dry quickly.
This taper does not need to look severe. On mixed hedges or evergreen screens commonly found across Britain, a barely noticeable narrowing works. The goal is practical, not ornamental, and it often makes routine spring shaping easier as well. It is realy that simple for the first hour after snowfall.
Bubble wrap on pots, the cheap insulation trick experts back
Delicate container specimens feel the cold from every side. Gardening expert Josh Novell told Ideal Home » ‘Bubble wrap works well as a cost effective solution, as well as being a great way to make use of any early online Christmas shopping. » He explained exactly why it helps.
Josh Novell added « It works well because the air pockets in bubble wrap create a layer of insulation that protects your delicate outdoor plants from cold temperatures. » He went further with a fitting reminder about how to secure it in place without smothering growth.
He went on to say « Ensure you use twine, tape or string to secure it in place. It should be secure enough not to blow away but eally removable for the occasional warm day to allow the plant to get some fresh air and winter sunlight. » He also called bubble wrap a temporary fix best used overnight, with the covering taken off each morning so air and water can reach the plant.
- When it starts to snow, gently shake branches and hedges, then check potted plants and add bubble wrap overnight, securing with twine and removing it the next day.
Dormancy, frost and city lights, what arborists notice in winter
Some trees cope by shutting down. Guy Barker at the i said « Deciduous trees go into dormancy, which is similar to hibernation in animals. Trees have sophisticated mechanisms to measure time and the spectral quality of light, with red light being crucial, and once a critical day length is reached, dormancy is irrevocably set in motion – although street lights can delay its onset and therefore the onset of autumn colour, too. »
The RHS also notes that tender specimens can be overwintered outdoors with suitable protection, while evergreens and container plants face higher risk in exposed spots. Wrappings to protect plants should be added when there is a sign of frost. Long term shelter belts or moving new plants sit better on the planning list for another season, not mid winter.
For many UK gardeners, that means keeping a roll of wrap, a ball of string and a soft broom by the back door. Act fast when flakes fall, then remove coverings when the sun returns so foliage breathes and dries. And if your patio hosts prized evergreens, give them special attention the second the forecast hints at a freeze.
Thanks for the reminder—gentle upward shake as flakes build is such a simple fix. I’d forgotten how much split wood comes from weight, not just frost. Going to taper my privet this weekend, weather allowing.