|  |
         
 |  |
 |
|
 
 |
Protecting plants through winter
Unless you live in a very mild area, any tender plants you put outside in your hot spot in summer will need protection from winter frosts.
You can sometimes get away with wrapping marginally tender plants in several layers of horticultural fleece during the coldest winter months. Don’t use bubble wrap because the plants won’t be able to ‘breathe’, condensation builds up inside and they rot.
It’s safest to grow them in pots and move them to a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory from October to late May.
With easily-rooted, fast-growing plants, such as pelargoniums, gazania and osteospermum, it’s a good idea to take cuttings in late summer and keep them on a windowsill indoors. They will take up less room than if you brought the whole plant inside.
Truss up the leaves of outdoor yuccas with string so the ‘heart’ of the rosette is protected.
If you leave containers of plants outside in winter, cover the pots with bubble wrap when cold weather is predicted to insulate them. Even hardy plants can be killed if the compost freezes solid. It’s not the cold that’s the problem - they die from lack of water.
|
Summary
Don’t see a hot spot as a problem; exploit it to make a unique garden feature that virtually looks after itself. It’ll be the envy of all your friends who have ‘good gardening conditions’.
- The right plant in the right place
- Height, shapes, colour, texture - contrast is king
- Think theatrical!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 | |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
Watch clips from programme six:
| | |
|
| |
 
Go interactive with Alan!
You can explore this site with enhanced functionality by running our Flash version.
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
