Gardens are remarkably resilient and most survive winter quite well - especially those gardens that include established plants. In recent years, however, many areas have experienced weather extremes, with very cold weather experienced in areas that don’t normally have harsh winters - meaning winter garden care is a hot topic. For more information on coping with changing weather conditions in your garden, see here.

How your plants prepare themselves for winter

Generally, plant growth slows down or even stops completely over winter. Many plants lose their leaves and become dormant until spring brings longer days and warmer conditions. It's nature's way of helping them survive the cold until warmer weather arrives.

Many plants which are dormant in winter have their own cold defence mechanism, but others require extra winter TLC.

Winter Garden Care: How to feed and water plants in winter

The general slowing of growth means it isn’t necessary to apply fertiliser to most plants during winter. Generally, watering can also be reduced. You should keep fertilising those plants that are growing through winter, such as flowering annuals and productive vegetables, but wait until spring brings new growth before feeding other plants. Potted plants and those actively growing may need regular watering through winter but cut back general watering especially where soils remain moist.

Winter Garden Care: How to protect plants from the cold

While dormant and deciduous plants mark time through winter, some plants do need extra care and attention to get them through winter, such as cold protection. Frost-sensitive plants (such as evergreen subtropical plants), new plantings and plants that have put on new soft growth can be damaged during a cold spell, particularly if those cold conditions occur in late winter when new growth has begun.

To protect plants, be proactive. Move susceptible potted plants into a sheltered spot such as covered patio until conditions improve. If the plant isn’t portable, cover it with frost blankets or shadecloth overnight if frost is forecast. Frost is likely on cold, still, cloudless nights when temperatures are forecast to drop to 2C or lower. Remove these covers during the day to allow the plant to receive sunlight.

New shoots appearing in late winter on deciduous plants can be protected with spray-on products such as Yates Waterwise DroughtShield (which, despite the name, also protects from frost). Learn more about frost protection here.

Frost blankets and polymer sprays such as Yates Waterwise Drought Shield are two options to protect plants from frost.

Winter Garden Care: How to save plants that have been frost damaged

Don’t give up yet on plants that have sustained frost or cold damage! They may look dead, but many recover with a little care once the weather warms.

Hold off pruning away frost damage - it may be ugly, but it's often protecting tender growth underneath. Wait for solid signs of new growth, then prune away the frost damage. To test whether growth is dead or just dormant, carefully bend the stem or twig. If it is brittle and breaks, then it is dead. If it bends and feels flexible, it is probably still alive and healthy.

Longer-term, however, it may be time to reassess the type of plants that you grow in your garden. Don’t replace plants that have suffered damage over winter with the same plant - you'll likely have the same result. Instead, select cold-tolerant plants including those that are already thriving in your garden. This will help to cold-proof your garden over future winters.