Protect your plants from heavy snow

09:31 30th November 2010

Taking precautions can help to protect garden and greenhouse plants from the heavy snow that has caused chaos on Britain's roads and led to a number of sporting events being postponed.

As a result of the weather, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Advisory Service helpline has been inundated with calls asking for suggestions on how to protect plants.

The organisation has been so swamped with inquiries that it has released a list of hints and tips on its website.

RHS advisor Jenny Bowden explained that taking simple precautions can make all the difference to how well the garden copes with winter.

"With a bit of care and attention during this inclement weather people can avoid having to replace valuable plants, trees and shrubs," she said.

Shaking the snow off evergreen and conifer branches should help to stop them bending out of shape, while pots and containers should be moved close to the house wall to provide shelter and heat.

Meanwhile, birdbaths can be stopped from freezing by insulating the base with bubble wrap and regularly changing the water.

In other news, the RHS has released a book on the wildflowers at its famous Garden Wisley site.