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Katie Rushworth brand identity

My Journal

Protecting your garden from late frosts

Late frosts can be a gardeners worst nightmare – especially if they come after days of warming sunshine! Here in Yorkshire (and much of the UK) late frosts are common in April and May.

Worrying about them shouldn’t stop you from pottering and planting around your garden in early spring, but it’s important to know that late frost can badly damage your tender plants and seedlings! I’ve put together some of my best tips on how you can protect your garden plants from late frosts.

Keep on reading to find out more…

 

Watch the weather
The first step to protecting your garden plants from late frosts is to be aware of the weather forecast. If the temperature is predicted to drop below freezing, you’ll have to take precautions to protect the plants in your space.

 

Cover and protect
One of the best ways to protect your garden plants is to cover them. Use horticultural fleece or bubblewrap to cover your plants overnight. You can also use old sheets or tarpaulins. Make sure to remove these covers in the morning when the sun comes out to avoid trapping in too much heat and moisture.


Mulch over those roots!
Mulching can help to protect the root systems of your plant from late frosts. Use organic matter, such as straw or shredded bark, to cover the soil around your plants. It will help lock in moisture and provide an extra layer of insulation for the roots.

Location of your plants…
If you’re planting in areas known for late frosts, try planting in raised beds or containers as this lifts the plants off the ground. If your plants are in containers, you should aim to place them in a location that is sheltered from the wind, or better yet, bring smaller, potted plants inside for the night if you can – the frost can be extremely tough on younger plants.

Late frosts can be a challenge for gardeners in the UK, but by being prepared and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect your plants from damage!

I hope my advice helps keep your outdoor plants looking great all year long! Don’t forget, if you have a specific topic you’d like my advice on, let me know by commenting on my social media posts and you just might see it on a future blog!

Best of luck! – Katie 

Katie's expertise is transforming clients' gardens with their video calls and garden visits...

My consultation with Katie was superb! Katie's focused and erudite knowledge really helped me transform my garden into something I would truly be proud to show off. Katie went into great depth and was very patient with my questions, guiding me through the process and enabling me to understand her thinking. I could not praise Katie enough, and would truly recommend her to anyone who is keen to breathe some new life into their garden!  

Shazia

I am absolutely delighted with Katie’s design service and feel that it was money very well spent. Katie came up with something that we would never have thought of but still feel is totally achievable. She completely fulfilled every point on the brief I had written and was so prompt with all of the follow-up information, including a helpful sketch and list of suitable planting. Katie has totally exceeded my expectations of what I thought could be achieved in a 30-minute call!

Claire

It was really great having a consultation with Katie. I really enjoyed it and she is so knowledgeable, advising me some ideas that are going to transform our garden. I'm so grateful. I've never known where to start and now I have a way forward. After I've finished my back garden I'm going to get a second consultation for the front. Thanks so much.

Anonymous

I would not hesitate to recommend Katie's Gardening Consultation via Zoom. Her knowledge of plants & garden design has helped enormously in my deciding what to do with the Garden.
Katie has given great advice & recommendations for making the garden perfect for us. 

Sandra

My zoom consult with Katie far exceeded my expectations!  She clearly took the time to assess my garden before our call and presented a brilliant plan for my garden as well as provided lots of tips for the planting.  I was even able to show her some additional problem areas in my garden during the consult and she offered practical advice that was really helpful and allowed me to envision what my garden can become with a little confidence and willingness to plant and design more boldly! I can’t say enough positive things about the consult. I highly recommend! 

Kyla in Southwest Idaho, USA

We were looking for some fresh ideas to rejuvenate an old garden. Katie has an easy-going and friendly approach which is underpinned by her extensive knowledge. She quickly aligned herself to our thought process and understood what we are trying to achieve. 
She made a number of innovative suggestions that challenged our preconceptions and we feel that we now have a plan to move forward.

N & P Cannon

Katie helped us see our dream garden where we couldn’t, taking time to understand our thoughts and favourite parts of the garden.
Katie was great fun to be around and has provided us with a beautiful plan for our garden which we will enjoy for a long time to come.

Anonymous

Without any exaggeration, the Katie Rushworth Garden Maker is the Best Investment I have ever made. My garden was stuck in the past and I had no idea how to transform it. I never dreamt in my wildest dreams, that I would be lucky enough for Katie Rushworth (personally) to work her magical garden design, with her professionalism and knowledge to transform my garden. She cuts no corners, you get far more than you could ever pay for, she works really hard to deliver the right garden for you and on top of all that she is a very nice person!

Roger in Stourbridge

Katie must be a mindreader because the scheme she created for us was just perfect; great variety, textures and all very much in the Japanese theme we had dreamed of. It was so helpful and also really enjoyable to be able to spend the day planting with her and learn lots of useful tips for maintenance and beyond. We can’t wait to watch it grow and change with the seasons.

Ruth in York

Working with Katie has been fantastic and worth every penny, she has helped me create two beautiful areas in my garden. It now looks fantastic!

Fiona in Holmfirth

Katie has been incredibly helpful as we set about transforming our front & back gardens, and we have learnt so much in a short space of time. We didn’t want someone to just do it all for us – we wanted to be hands-on but with some guidance & encouragement, and Katie’s mentoring has been perfect for that. She is very easy to work with, great fun – and she’s certainly done her share of digging & planting too!

Andrew & Susan in Baildon

Katie really knows her plants, where they are happiest. She understood our needs and wants and simply delivered. Great knowledge, great advice and taught this old dog a few new tricks giving me the confidence to take my own garden planning to the next level.

Tricia & Ian in East Hardwick

Katie Rushworth is a passionate and knowledgeable gardener whose enthusiasm is infectious. She has a great eye for design and is also good at explaining things. Oh, and she’s not at all afraid to get her hands dirty!

Alan Titchmarsh