Winter Plant Protection

Good morning Gardeners! Are you wrapping up to go outside today? Coat, scarf, gloves, woolly hat perhaps? Well, if so then spare a thought and a few pennies perhaps for your more vulnerable plants that might need something to keep the cold, damp and frostbite at bay. Wrap them up with a Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jacket, an Extra thick Fleece blanket or a Victorian Bell cloche. We often receive questions about looking after container grown plants in the winter (listen in Potty Gardener), one of the most common being cordyline palms. I would suggest gathering all the leaves together and holding them in an upright position with some string or soft-tie, but when it is really cold an Easy Fleece Jacket or even two should help to protect the foliage and stop the frost getting to the growing point of the palm. Do make sure to remove the jackets when the weather is warmer to avoid rotting.

The Royal Horticultural Society  offers some good advice on protecting plants during the winter months and unless I am very much mistaken it looks like they have opted to spend their pennies on a Haxnicks Victorian Bell Cloche.

Many plants bravely push on through the cold without any protection but one in particular never fails to give me a childlike surprise every year. Spotting the first modest blooms of snow drops in my garden always makes me smile, but if they are still hiding in your garden then why not wrap up and warm yourself inside and out by a visit to a snowdrop display in someone else's? The National garden Scheme has a list of snowdrop gardens open in aid of nursing and caring charities in February.

Grandpa Haxnicks

Don’t wait for the first frost

To protect plants and trees from frost damage, they need to be covered. So when the weather forecast is for overnight frost, it is advisable to be prepared. Haxnicks’ Easy Fleece Jackets are ideal for potted patio plants as you can easily pull them over the plants and draw the bottom together using the integral drawstring which closes off the air flow giving the plant its own microclimate. With a choice of 3 sizes the Easy Fleece Jackets are ideal for both large and small plants as well as for hanging baskets.

Made from high quality 35gsm polypropylene fleece material, the jackets will protect your plants but also allow light and moisture to filter through to provide a healthy growing environment and the soft material does not cause harm to buds or leaves.

Once the threat of frost is past, simply remove the Fleece Jackets, fold them and store them until the next time you hear the words “.....and tonight there will be an overnight frost”!

Spring clean in November!

By Jo Sensecall

November is “spring clean” time the garden! With nothing to plant, you should clear any remains of crops for composting and fork over bare ground. Store away hoses, pots and canes and have a general tidy up.

Cover any pots that you have which are not frost proof with jute material, or fleece, this will stop them from cracking.  Lifting them off the ground with blocks of wood or special ceramic feet is also good idea.

Use our Easy Fleece Jackets to cover any fragile container plants and to protect them from early or late frosts. These Easy Fleece Jackets are ideal for overwintering plants in containers or hanging baskets and have an integral drawstring for easy and practical use.

5 Easy Ways to protect your plants from frost

Post by Robbie
Although you can never completely eradicate the threat of frost damage to the plants in your garden, you can at least use these helpful tips as a guide to prepare for the worst:

1. Group plants together Choose a location at the top of the garden facing north, west or south. Plants in containers may be grouped together so that You can easily create a microclimate for your plants which allow them to provide shelter for each other and make it easier for you to cover and water them in one go.



2. Cover plants in Fleece Make sure you cover plants in fleece or hessian/jute.  This will protect them from frost and allow light and moisture to filter through.  If you want to make it even easier, you can use fleece jackets such as the one in the picture, which just pull over the top and fasten at the bottom.  Note:  Pots (especially terracotta ones) can suffer from frost damage so make sure you cover these in the same way.


3.  Move tender plants to the greenhouse or indoors if you have the space.  You can also overwinter (gardening jargon for plant hibernation) by covering them with a cold frame, plant house or a polythene grower system cover.


4.  Use mother nature!  It sounds crazy, but in fact snow can help to insulate your plants, especially from cold drying winds.  Make sure you still clear snow from tree branches and conservatory/greenhouse roofs, though, as snow can become heavy and cause damage. Use mulch (old leaves, home made compost) and straw to provide natural cover for tree roots, especially evergreens in pots and with roots above the surface of the soil.


5. Keep plants watered In the winter plants lose moisture in the cold, dry air so make sure you water them if they need it and this will improve their natural defense against the harsh effects of winter weather.  Too much water (rainwater included) is  a bad thing though - you don't want the ground around the roots to freeze.

We are well known for being experts in plant protection - so why not drop us a line or comment in the box below if you have any questions, would like more details or even if you have your own tried and tested tips for protecting your plants from cold weather.

Autumn’s coming - be prepared!

Protecting precious plants from a sudden cold snap is simply a matter of being prepared and keeping an eye on the weather forecast. Plant-protection and grow-your-own specialist Haxnicks, has a range of frost protection products that can be put in place in a matter of minutes.

Old favourites, Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jackets, are simply slipped over the plants and secured with the integral ties. Job done!

Available in soft-green, they provide good insulation and allow light, air and moisture to filter through so healthy growth is maintained. Available in three sizes: small containers; medium containers and hanging baskets; and, large container, for exotics in pots and borders; priced at £6.99 per pack.

Please view the press release for more details.

It's the Holidays

Mid-August, - Sun, Holidays, and Harvest - we hope all your hard work has paid off and the vegetables are tasting good.

For Haxnicks, this is the time that we prepare for the new season -polishing off our new ideas and products, and visiting various Trade and Retail shows - Hampton Court, GLEE, Cologne and even Chicago. It's the season for us to make sure your local garden centre is well stocked for next year.

However, for you our customers, it is also a good time for you to stock up ready for the winter and we're currently offering 2 for 1 for any Fleece Jackets. Fleece Jackets can be used for bedded plants or container pots, in the vegetable garden, on the patio or for hanging baskets.

The concept is simple, save your plant from the cold frosts of winter. A Haxnicks Designer Fleece Jacket looks great in that garden and we have three types, 'Autumn', 'Snowflake' and 'Green Leaf', so plenty of choice is available. All Fleece Jackets come with a drawstring, so they are really easy to put on the plant.

So enjoy the harvest, and hopefully get some winter crops in the ground, but also start preparing your garden for the colder weather to come.

Potato progress - Winter crops

Hopefully, you are all enjoying your own home-grown potatoes by now, and doesn't the taste make it all worthwhile? But it ain't over til the fat lady sings (at christmas) - Once you've emptied your Potato Patio Planters, keep them in mind, as you can very easily have another batch of fresh home-grown spuds ready for the Christmas table!

All you have to do is replant from mid-August to early September. Seed potatoes will be available from most garden centres and mail-order companies - Alternatively, you could just keep back a few spuds from your summer crop and use them as your seed potatoes! Add a little straw/old leaves to the bottom of your planter - as this rots it will help to provide some warmth, protecting your winter potatoes from the cold. Then plant as normal.

Potato foliage cannot handle the frost, so ideally bring your planters inside as the cold comes on - a greenhouse, barn, or the kitchen will do, as long as there is some light. As normal, don't soak your potatoes, but ensure the soil remains moist. (Sorry to all those of you who dislike the word 'moist', but it does the job!)

It will also help to cover your plants with fleece to warm them - there are various fleece jackets available, which pop over the plant very easily - why not choose a decorated one for a bit more colour against the drabness of winter?

Hope you're enjoying your harvests, long may they last!

Love to grow!

Wrap it up with a Fleece jacket

As autumn approaches and early frosts threaten, Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jackets make it simple to protect exotic plants, hanging baskets and other semi-hardy plants in patio containers.

Instead of struggling with lengths of horticultural fleece, you can now quickly slip a fleece jacket over your plant and the job is done. Easily secured with the integral, rot-proof drawstring and locking toggle, it provides instant protection against frost, harsh weather and pests.

Easy Fleece Jackets are made from a high-grade 30gsm polypropylene fleece which is heavy enough to provide winter protection, but light enough to allow maximum sunlight and moisture to filter through in order to maintain healthy growth. Ideal for over-wintering any tender plant, they come in a soft-green in colour to blend in against garden foliage, making them as unobtrusive as possible.

Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jackets are available in three sizes, priced at £6.99 per pack