Well hello snow, it has certainly been a chilly week this week and talk has been all about protecting our gardens from the cold. Looking after tender plants, the official end to Dahlia season and of course how to protect our pots. 

To begin all our pots are hardy to -20c which is incredible we know but your pots and the special plants within can sometimes benefit with some added winter protection to keep them thriving and surviving over the Winter. 

Adding protection before planting

Winter protection starts when you take receipt of your wonderful pots, whether this be in Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. Before you plant your pots there are some precautions you can take to help the Winter frost attack. 

Add crock and plenty of it. The bigger the pot, the more crock needed. This will help with drainage, stop the soil from becoming water logged and therefore freezing once the frosts arrive. 

You can also add a lining to the inside of your pots, this puts a barrier between the pot and the contents - use a split compost bag this helps reduce plastic waste or if you don't have any old bags lying around, plastic sheeting or bubble wrap works around the inner pot (not the bottom).

Adding protection after planting

If your pots are already planted there is still plenty of Winter protection you can carry out to keep your pot and planters in tip top shape through the Winter months. 

Move them - The beauty of pots is they can be relocated, if this is possible move the terracotta pots to a frost free environment, under cover, closer to the house. These locations will help prevent hard frosts. 

Wrap them - Give your pots an extra layer, like wearing a scarf to keep us warm we can use the following on our pots to keep them warm too. Try hessian, horticultural wool or even old blankets and towels. This may look a little unsightly but is a great measure to take to protect your planters. 

Raise them - Putting your pots onto feet and elevating off the floor will allow air to circulate underneath and prevent your pots from cracking. 

Clear them - Snow resting on our plants and pots may look serene and beautiful but don't let it stand for too long, keep clearing snow away from pots and plants to keep them in good working order and prevent any damage happening. 

Pot feet for every style pot at Tom's Yard

Your pots, planters, troughs, urns, bowls are all investments in your garden so looking after them is paramount. We're always on hand to help you with any queries about looking after your pots so please never hesitate in contacting us should you have a question at sales@tomsyard.co.uk