As October begins, gardeners are being urged to use old bed sheets to protect their plants from the first frost of the season. The advice comes from David Denyer, a flower and garden expert at Eflorist with more than 35 years of experience, who warns that this period is one of the most damaging times of year for gardens.
After months of warmth and growth, many garden plants have not yet developed their winter hardiness, leaving them vulnerable to sudden cold snaps. The first frost often arrives while the garden still looks full of life, catching gardeners off guard.
Why the first frost is so dangerous
Denyer explained: "The first autumn frost often catches gardeners off guard because it arrives while your garden still looks full of life.
"Many plants have been putting out new growth after a warm summer and wet September, but that growth is full of water and has soft cell walls. When frosty temperatures arrive, the water inside your plants freezes and expands, rupturing those cells and leaving them blackened and unable to recover."
He added: "Later in winter, most plants naturally harden off and become more resilient, but the first frost usually arrives before they’ve had the chance to do that, which is why it can cause so much damage."
How to protect your plants
The good news is that it doesn't take much to protect your plants. According to Denyer, it all lies in slowing down how quickly they lose the warmth they’ve absorbed during the day.
He said: "Covering your more vulnerable plants with fleece, cloches, or even an old sheet will trap a thin layer of warmer air around them and stop it escaping overnight.
"Just remember to remove the covers again in the morning so that air can circulate and the plants can breathe. If you leave covers on during the day, moisture can build up underneath, leading to rot and mould."
This advice was echoed by Zeeshan Haider, CEO of Greenery Enthusiast, who told Homes and Gardens: "Using bed sheets in the garden to prevent plants from frost is a great way to protect your plants from the cold temperatures and keep them healthy."
If you have hanging baskets and it's not possible to cover them, you should move them up against a wall instead. These structures can hold on to warmth during the day and release it slowly at night, helping to raise the temperature around your plants and stop frost forming.
Gardening task to avoid
According to the expert, there's one thing that gardeners should not do before the first frost, even though it might be tempting - and that's feeding your plants. Fertilisers encourage soft new growth that may look healthy but freezes very easily, so it’s best to stop feeding after summer.
Denyer added: "Another common mistake that many gardeners make in autumn is watering late in the day. You may be in the habit of watering in the evenings to avoid the summer heat, but once temperatures start to drop, this can be risky.
"Wet soil conducts cold much faster than dry soil, which makes it more likely to freeze in low temperatures. If you need to water your plants, do it early in the morning so that any excess moisture can drain away before the temperature drops again overnight."
