Frost damage
After a frosty night, young shoots, leaves and blossom go limp and glassy and then turn black or brown. Evergreens get brown leaf edges, and in severe frost the bark of trunks can split lengthways.
Late night frosts in April–May hit young growth, and hard winters damage plants that are not hardy enough or are grown in pots.
What can you do?
- Don’t cut off frosted parts straight away: wait until after mid-May to see what regrows.
- Then cut dead wood back to just above a healthy bud.
- Water evergreens during dry, frost-free winter weather, as they dry out in winter too.
- Leave frost cracks in the bark alone; they usually heal by themselves.
Prevention
Cover sensitive plants and blossom with fleece when frost threatens, shelter pots in winter and plant out tender vegetables only after mid-May.
When to watch out: November–April