Advice Series On Wintering Tender Plants Released By GardenCentreOnline.co.uk

Online, February 15, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Many plants which feature heavily in winter gardens are well adapted to damaging winter conditions, being noticeably hardy and capable. Yet many gardens feature tender perennials less capable of withstanding the harsh weather, and quite often enthusiastic gardeners are disheartened by the experience of seeing their investments stopped dead by a killing frost. In light of the recent UK freeze, and weather forecasts predicting a second one for February, Garden Centre Online have released advice to their customers on protecting tender plants for winter.

The techniques for large, small and contained plants vary greatly. Small plants are generally weak, featuring stems rather than trunks. While they need to be insulated, it's unlikely they'll hold the weight of materials themselves. Gardencentreonline.co.uk recommends customers to construct a cage in a cone or cylindrical shape, ideally out of a bendy organic material like bamboo, tied together with string. Once the cage is firmly pushed into the ground it can be filled or covered with straw or a permeable fabric, keeping the tender plant protected from cold temperatures and strong winds. In cases of snow it's sometimes best to lid the top of the cage with a permeable lid, in the case of cylindrical structures.

Larger plants need more materials, though less dexterity. They're sturdy enough to take extra weight, so it's simple enough to coat the trunk with an organic insulator like straw, and then secure it in place with string. Some gardeners choose to bag the tops of their trees in particularly intense weather, though this is unlikely to become necessary.

Container grown plants, depending on their size, are subject to the two methods of insulation and protection described above. The main difference is the need to protect the container. Being above ground it stands a better chance of freezing, which could severely damage the roots. Worse still, if the container cracks under freezing temperatures the roots could snap or tear. This stands a real risk of killing the plant, especially when the ground is too cold for re-planting. There's no need for oxygen to permeate the sides of the container, so simply coat it in bubble wrap to stop the soil from freezing. Safely secured with string this will suffice for container plants of all sizes.

A representative from the company was available to comment on their new advice. "We see a lot of gardeners investing in insulation products over the winter, and we understand how much they want to protect their investments. We're constantly distributing tips and articles to help keep them informed, it's not enough to just sell to your customers if you don't attempt to support them in use of your products, we feel."

GardenCentreOnline.co.uk sell planting and genuine Hunter Wellies. Based in the heart of Leyland they sell to customers across the UK. By spreading up to date planting and maintenance advice they hope to see their customers making excellent use of their gardens.