Where should all the flower pots go in winter? The apartment has long been cluttered, but without winter protection your plants are in danger of dying? Plants that can overwinter outdoors and still need light frost protection can simply be provided with a layer of brushwood. In this article you will find a lot of useful information about the natural material.
How does brushwood protect plants from frost in winter?
Twigs serve as winter protection for plants thanks to their insulating properties and protect them from frost damage. Brushwood from Nordmann firs or spruces are particularly suitable. Combined with breathable materials such as jute or fleece, effective frost protection is created that simultaneously protects against winter sun and dehydration.
Which brushwood to use
The brushwood from two coniferous trees is particularly suitable for use as winter protection:
- Nordmann firs
- Spruce
Use brushwood with jute or fleece
Many gardeners make do with simple foil (€28.00 on Amazon) that they wrap around their perennials. Wetness can form, especially if there is brushwood underneath the material. In most cases this leads to mold formation. Fleeces or jute bags, however, are
- breathable
- water permeable
- translucent
- cold-insulating
- protect against evaporation
Note: Because of their breathability, fleeces or jute bags are much more recommended than foil that you wrap around the perennial, but there is still a certain risk here too. Under a heavy blanket of snow, the covering can crush the plant. To prevent this, drive four stakes into the ground around the plant and cover the perennial along with the scaffolding.
Not just protection from the cold
Twigs have insulating properties and thus protect your plants from death from the cold. But plants don't just need to be protected from frost in winter. Additional covering over the brushwood layer is required to block the winter sun. Otherwise, your plants will dry out because they will not be able to absorb enough water through their roots due to the frozen ground.
Winter protection made from brushwood for roses
Roses are particularly sensitive to frost at the grafting point. To protect them from the cold with brushwood, do the following:
- cut back enough to cover the entire crown
- pile up brushwood
- cover with jute sack or fleece
- tie with a cord if necessary
