QI have just bought some palm trees and put them in the garden. How should I care for them over winter?
Karen
AActually, most palm trees should be perfectly hardy in a sheltered spot in the British climate. They are hardier than you might think!
However, if it does get very cold over winter, or there is a risk of snow, wrap the trees with horticultural fleece. You should wrap a few layers around the trunk to keep it warm until the cold snap passes.
Also protect the crown (the bit on the top of the trunk where the leaves start) with fleece or straw held in place with some string or wire.
You may also want to protect roots with a mulch – this will stop frost penetrating too deep into the soil.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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