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Prepare the garden for autumn frosts It’s now officially autumn, which means the weather is getting colder and the chance of plant-damaging frosts is higher
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hile frost looks beautiful when the sun is just up and glittering on the icy fronds, it’s hazardous for most gardens. Since plants have such a high water content and water expands when it freezes, frost makes those plant cells explode – leading to mushy or black foliage after it thaws. Garden Australia’s Sophie Thomson says most plants in a garden can come back from frost damage, but it requires proper care. First, don’t prune your plants until the danger of frost is over, or the new growth will also get damage and die – new growth is actually more susceptible to frost. It may look unsightly, but you’re better off leaving the frost-damaged foliage on
the plant for now. The other big tip is being prepared. Some young plants don’t have the fortitude to withstand frosts yet, so they need protection. Sophie says you’ll know there will be a frost when the temperature gets to below five degrees overnight and the evening is clear and still. Cover your plants up at night with old bedsheets or a tarp – even an upside-down pot or plastic bottle can work for seedlings and smaller plants. If it gets cold enough for the ground to start freezing, you can protect your garden by mulching or laying straw around the base of the plants. It’s particularly important to do this for conifers, fruit and strawberries.
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