Here is the smart way to shield your garden before it snows in the UK, with the 10 plants that need protection most this winter

When it piles up, shrubs suffer, so here is how to keep them safe.

Across the UK, winter can flip from drizzle to a sudden flurry with little warning, and that leaves gardeners wondering what to do. A light blanket of snow often looks harmless, yet a turn to sleet and ice can bend prized shrubs and spoil their shape for years. The question many ask is simple. Which plants really need help before the next cold snap.

The answer is reassuring and practical. Most plants shrug off a fine layer of snow that actually buffers against biting wind. Trouble starts when snow and ice build up and weigh on flexible stems. Below, the key plants to watch and the quick fixes that UK gardeners can set up at short notice. You might be surprised.

The quiet risk in UK gardens when snow arrives

Gardeners often focus on low temperatures, yet the weight of frozen precipitation causes more immediate harm. A light layer of snow can act like a duvet that insulates beds from sharp gusts and sudden chill. Problems emerge once snow and ice stack up and drag on delicate branches. Damage does not always kill a plant, but it can spoil the outline and ruin the neat form people prize.

Evergreen shrubs carry foliage all year so they catch more accumulation than bare, leafless neighbours. That simple fact puts evergreens at higher risk of breakage during heavy snowfall. Left unchecked, the extra weight can snap stems that would otherwise sail through winter. So timing matters.

The evergreen favourites that need shielding before a flurry turns heavy

These are the plants that benefit most from a bit of help before a forecast turns wintry. They tend to collect snow and ice, then struggle under the load.

• Arborvitae
• Azaleas and rhododendrons
• Boxwoods
• Cedars
• Gardenias
• Hollies, especially vertical varieties like ‘Sky Pencil’
• Japanese aucuba
• Upright junipers
• Pieris
• Tender winter vegetables and flowers

Many of these stalwarts hold pride of place by front doors and along paths, which makes any snapped branch feel even more visible. A few minutes of cover before the flakes settle can spare a season of awkward pruning.

Quick covers you can set up fast when a warning hits

Start small with a DIY cloche. Glass bell jars look beautiful, but a home fix works just as well for compact plants. Cut the top from a clean drinks bottle or a milk jug, place it over the plant, and set a rock or brick on top so wind cannot lift it. An upturned flower pot also works in a pinch. Remove every cover once the weather passes so plants reach the light and do not overheat.

For something slightly larger, a simple cardboard box acts as a short term shield. You can also turn a plastic storage bin upside down to make a snug dome over foliage. Keep plastic on only briefly because it traps sunlight and heat.

Need roomier protection. Hammer stout stakes into the soil to outline a small frame, then drape it with burlap, frost cloth or a warm blanket. Pin it in place with heavy stones or tie it firmly with twine so gusts cannot lift the edges. This tent sheds snow before it can press down on stems.

Tomato cages can do more than support summer vines. Pop one over a small shrub or winter bedding, then cover it with cloth and weigh the hem with stones or bricks. For a longer run of low plants, create a tunnel with wire hoops, a floating row cover and fabric staples so the whole row sits under a light arch. Many seed and garden supply companies sell these simple parts, though a homemade version works too.

Small moves that make winter protection actually work

Cold harms in two ways. A hard freeze makes it difficult for roots to take up water, and harsh winds dry out foliage. If rain has been scarce, give the most sensitive plants a thorough drink before the storm so they face the chill well hydrated. Then lay an insulating layer of mulch around the base to buffer the soil.

Containers feel the cold more than in ground borders. Move potted evergreens and winter flowers to a more sheltered spot before the flurry, then add a cover if the forecast looks rough. A little shelter can be the difference between a perky shrub and a sorry one.

Set everything up so it stays put. Use stones, bricks or twine to anchor fabric and improvised covers. If you rely on a cloche or a plastic bin, take it off as soon as skies clear. That stops heat building up and it restores full light. Leave covers on only as long as they are needed. Your shrubs wont thank you for a sauna.

When snow is already falling, avoid brushing or shaking branches hard. Let your structures do the work by keeping the load off in the first place. A calm, simple routine that you can repeat through the season keeps UK gardens looking good while the weather does its worst.