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How to protect your plants from winter weather and nibbling animals

how to help your plants survive winter weather protect young trees wild animals garden 2022 uk
Rabbits strip the bark from young trees in search of sap and sugar - Alamy

For gardeners across the UK, winter brings its own set of challenges. In particular, the unpredictable weather and foraging animals that can decimate young saplings and shrubs in any outdoor space.

But all is not lost - because it is also the best time of year to sow sweet peas as well as enjoying the fruits of your labour when it comes to celeriac.

Here are the top things to do in your garden right now.

Top tips for keeping on top of your garden

Windproof your plants

how to help your plants survive winter weather protect young trees wild animals garden 2022 uk prune
It is a good idea to reduce the canopy of vulnerable, fast-growing plants such as buddleia and hybrid tea roses - iStockphoto

Severe weather is becoming more common all year round, and high winds can have devastating consequences for plants. The danger is that plants can be rocked back and forth which damages their root systems and, in severe cases, can topple them. To prevent that sail effect, it is a good idea to reduce the canopy of vulnerable, fast-growing plants such as buddleia and hybrid tea roses - if you have not done so already. Simply reduce their height by 50 per cent to make them better able to stand up to gales. In spring we’ll prune hard again, so this reduction allows for dieback over the remainder of the winter, but doesn’t compromise new growth.

Sow sweet peas

how to help your plants survive winter weather protect young trees wild animals garden 2022 uk sow sweet peas
Now is the best time to sow sweet peas for an early flush of flowers, compared with those sown in spring - http://www.gapphotos.com

Now is the best time to sow sweet peas for an early flush of flowers, compared with those sown in late spring. Sweet peas are an ideal plant for kids to sow as the seeds are large and easy to handle, and the rewards in summer are hugely gratifying. Budding entrepreneurs can earn a few pence selling bunches, too.

There are a number of confusing techniques out there (e.g. soaking seeds and chitting) but simply pushing a single seed into a seed module so that it’s well covered has always worked for me. Water trays thoroughly and place in a cool bright place – an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame is ideal – ready for planting out in March.

Your biggest problem will be mice. To rodent-proof sweet peas, cover the seed trays with glass or mesh as a physical barrier.

Protect plants from nibble damage

In winter, food can become scarce for wild animals, and they have to be more resourceful to find nourishment.

This can be bad news for young trees, as rabbits strip off the bark to enjoy the sap and sugars beneath. To prevent this damage, protect any juvenile trees with rabbit guards or a wire-mesh barrier.

I tend to give my young trees an MOT by clearing any competing weeds and then mulching a circle approximately 3ft (1m) in diameter around the trunk. This stands the tree in good stead for the next growing season.

Harvest celeriac

how to help your plants survive winter weather protect young trees wild animals garden 2022 uk harvest celeriac
Late autumn is the time to harvest celeriac and enjoy the fruits of your labour - Alamy

Celeriac is a delicious root vegetable with a celery-like flavour, but it can be demanding to grow. It loves a fertile soil and doesn’t like dry conditions. You can can harvest celeriac from October through to March, so now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour in soups, gratins or steak-like slices. You have to wait until spring to sow, but here are my top tips: allow a good 12in (30cm) between plants, and plant them nice and deep so that the roots are well buried. Make sure to water well initially and give a liquid seaweed feed once a week, paying particular attention in dry spells. Finally, in August, remove the lower leaves and side shoots so that each plant resembles a tiny pineapple. Good luck and, most importantly, bon appétit!

Two garden projects to plan

Top tips

Very little can rival the taste of fresh asparagus from the garden or allotment in early summer. By now, asparagus foliage should have turned a straw colour, which means that it is no longer providing nutrition for the root system. You have a couple of options: one is to leave the stems to provide a habitat for over-wintering insects; the other is to cut stems down to a few centimetres and add them to the compost heap to benefit the wildlife there. At the same time, deal with any compaction by lightly forking around the plants; this will improve air circulation and water penetration during the rest of the winter season. In spring, add some fertiliser in the form of fish, blood and bone, and mulch with that well-rotted garden compost you’re producing.

Lawnmowers deserve love

We take them for granted as we drag them out of our sheds and garages, but now is a good time to show your lawn mower some love with an annual service. Companies that carry out services can become very busy at this time of year, so it’ll serve you well to get yours booked in before the rush. An annual service extends the life of your mower and improves its performance. It is so frustrating when mowers go wrong just as the grass is growing great guns. A service entails filter, oil and spark plug changes as well as a blade check and sharpen. Contact your local lawn mower dealer for prices and availability.

Tom Brown is head gardener at West Dean Gardens, West Sussex

This guide is kept updated with the latest advice.