Protected from wind and precipitation, plants are in good hands on the balcony in winter. However, there is still a risk of frost damage to the plants. On this page you will learn how to protect your plants effectively and what differences there are to overwintering in the garden.
How do I protect balcony plants from frost damage in winter?
To protect plants on the balcony in winter, you should cut them back, check the location and use insulating material such as straw, brushwood or old leaves. Cover the buckets with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) or jute and place them on wooden or polystyrene mats to avoid cold from below.
Instructions
Required materials
- a secateurs
- Insulating material such as straw, brushwood or old leaves
- Garden fleeces, bubble wrap or jute bags
- Wooden or Styrofoam mats
Procedure
- Pruning and removal of old plant parts
- Checking for winter resistance
- Install winter protection
- further care
The pruning
Deciduous plants withdraw their nutrients into the interior in autumn due to the weakening sunlight. For this reason, the chlorophyll, the green pigment, also disappears from the leaves. Since the plants no longer look attractive anyway, pruning them is all the easier. You should remove wilted or even diseased shoots before installing winter protection. Depending on the type of balcony plant, it is also recommended to cut it back to around a third of the original length. This means that the plant does not waste unnecessary energy on maintaining the new shoots, but can instead gather strength during the rest phase in order to sprout magnificently the following year. However, do not carry out such pruning too late in the year so that wounds can close before the first frost.
Control of winter hardiness
Not every plant that is declared hardy can withstand severe temperatures below zero. Some plants must be kept indoors over the winter. Temporarily move the potted plants to a cool stairwell. Beforehand, you should also carefully check the plant for pests or diseases.
Install winter protection
- Cover the substrate with straw or brushwood
- make sure that air still reaches the earth
- Place the plant on a protected house wall
- Cover the bucket with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) or jute
- fix with a cord if necessary
- Place the bucket on a wooden or polystyrene plate to avoid cold from below
- possibly put a second cover over it
Tip
Winter protection doesn't always have to look dreary. Jute bags are also available with colorful patterns.
Further care
- water on frost-free days
- Winter protection should only be left on the plant for as long as necessary
