The wrong kind of cover can snap branches and spoil prized shrubs.
Across Britain, sleet and flurries can turn up with little warning, even near the coast. A light dusting can help, acting like a blanket against biting wind and sharp cold. The trouble starts when wet flakes and ice stack up and drag on pliable stems.
Gardeners often worry more about the freeze than the flurry, and they are right to pause. Roots struggle to draw water during a hard freeze, while wind scours leaves dry. The trick is smart protection that works when a heavier fall is on the cards. Here is what matters now.
The evergreen suspects that buckle under snow in the UK
Plants that keep their leaves through winter catch and hold more **snow**, which means more weight on every branch. Bare deciduous trees shed flakes faster. So form often suffers most on **evergreens**, even if the plant survives the season perfectly well.
These are the prime candidates to shield before a heavy fall, especially upright forms that act like shelves for slush:
- Arborvitae, azaleas, rhododendrons, boxwoods, cedars, gardenias, hollies including vertical varieties such as ‘Sky Pencil’, Japanese aucuba, upright junipers, pieris, and tender winter vegetables and flowers
Why focus on shape as well as survival. Because once a conical shrub bows and sags, its outline may never look the same. Protecting early keeps structure intact and saves a spring of corrective pruning.
The simple prep that protects roots before a cold snap
Most winter damage comes from severe cold rather than the flakes themselves. If rain has not visited lately, give your most sensitive plants a slow, deep drink before the storm. That includes many **evergreens** and winter vegetables in active growth.
Lay an insulating ring of **mulch** around the base to hold moisture and buffer temperature swings. Then move containers to a spot with more shelter from wind. Tuck them close together to share warmth and reduce exposure.
That is your base layer. Once the forecast hints at a heavier belt of **snow**, add a cover that sheds weight without smothering the plant underneath.
The DIY covers that keep flakes off without crushing stems
For tiny subjects, make a **cloche** in minutes. Cut the top off a clean soda bottle or milk jug and drop it over the plant. Set a brick or stone on top so it stays put in gusts. An upside down flower pot can do the same job for a night or two.
For slightly larger plants, use a cardboard box as a quick shield. A plastic bin turned upside down works too, but only for short spells since **plastic** can trap light and heat on brighter winter days.
To protect shrubs with a bit more height, create a simple tent. Hammer sturdy stakes into the ground around the plant and drape **frost cloth**, burlap, or a blanket over the frame. Weigh the edges with stones or tie them in place with twine so the cover does not rub the foliage.
Smaller shrubs and clumps of winter bedding fit neatly inside a **tomato cage**. Wrap the cage in fabric and anchor it with bricks to stop lift. For a whole row, build a low tunnel with wire hoops and a floating **row cover**, then pin the fabric down with staples. You can order these supplies from many seed and garden companies when stocks allow.
Whichever method you choose, lift the cover once the weather has past to let in light and air. Leave covers on too long and trapped warmth can build under clear skies, even when the air feels raw.
The easy post-snow routine that avoids hidden damage
When the sky clears, start by checking that covers have not sagged onto stems. Remove temporary bins and boxes early to prevent overheating and let photosynthesis resume. Then peel away cloths once the risk of fresh accumulation has faded.
If you watered ahead of the freeze, the root zone should be in better shape. Keep the **mulch** in place to even out thaw and freeze cycles over the next week. For upright shrubs, restore supports if a cage or tent held their shape during the storm.
One last point. Protection is not for every flurry. A light powder can insulate and shield from wind, buying your borders time to ride out the chill. Save the full kit for the sticky falls that bend branches and the deep cold that follows a sharp front. It is a small effort that keeps prized plants looking like themselves come spring.
Brilliant tip. I never thought a tomato cage wrapped in frost cloth could save my boxwoods’ shape during those wet UK snows. Adding this to my pre-storm checklist—cheers!