Prolongued Ice and Snow

its snowing again. we've had snow cover on and off for nearly three week and my part of Kent is usually mild (we're close to London).

i have a Hebbe which is almost certainly going to be a casualty of the bad weather. although in the evening I'm covering it with a clear plastic sheet

I'm also occasionally clearing snow from trees which are clearly bending under the weight.

Is anybody else having to take extra steps to make sure that they see a swift return to form in the spring ?

 

No sign of snow stopping here in N Lincs.I haven't ventured down the garden being on orders from my Son not to go out. Having to be content to ,read 'knit and cook .made some lovely cakes, hope someone will take some home with them when they bring the milk

 

The snow here in Yorkshire is terrible, half my plants look to be dead, almost certainly most of the plants in my tropical garden :( I've covered as much as I can with fleece though.

 

A general piece of gardening advice for snowy and very cold weather is to avod treading on your lawn at this time because your footsteps crush the grass underneath. After the snow has melted, I've found the grass does look a bit poorly where you've trodden but it soon recovers in the spring.

 

Yesterday we were -7 in Tyne & Wear. No idea what it was today as I never ventured out! Driving to the shops and back was a nightmare and I got stuck twice but luckily, after I'd purchased a new shovel! :wink:

Don't think I've much in my garden isn't going to survive other than the birds!

Anyone got any whispers on just how long this cold 'snap' is likely to last? It seems to be set in for a while and I notice the weather forecasters projections on the subject are conspicuous by their absence!!

 

It doesn't take a weather forecaster to see the snow clouds here at the moment. If they fall it will be thick again. There is a good chance the schools will stay closed near us aswell.

I suppose some of the lupin seedlings I put out in September won't make it through lol. Never mind I have spares.

They say it will last a couple more weeks to be clear.

 

My hydrangeas are looking very sorrowful :(

 

The only consolation with this weather is that a good layer of snow can protect plants from the frosts to some degree. I dug up celeriac and leeks yesterday and the soilwasn't even frozen under the snow.

Having said that I think we will still sustain a lot of casualties this winter. With such a number of milder winters our perception of what is hardy has shifted somewhat.

I remember a hard winter around 81? loosing mature Rosemary, Cistus, Hebes and Eucalytus as well as all the Penstemons!
At the moment I fear for my golden Choisia which normally cheers the garden likea patch of sunshine through winter

 

Ive found Choisya sundance to look awful after a hard winter a light prune back in spring reveals wish wash green but healthy growth underneath the frost damage , within weeks its made a new flush of vibrant yellow growth.

looks like a CHANCE of a return to the very cold weather end of next week

 

Awww Whis4ey, I hope there is not to much damage and they manage to bounce back in the spring.:flag::thmb: 02

 

My garden's been under a foot of snow since before Christmas - but it's thawing now.
I have winter lettuce, Pak Choi, Pea shoots and some fuchsias and other ornamentals in the cold frame - lined with polystyrene and plants covered with fleece.
Today is the first I have been able to look into the frame for weeks and everything looks just fine :thmb: So hopefully I'll get my lettuce and Pak Choi after all :D

 

Well we are virtually thawed out here but I haven't checked the plants yet- I hope they have survived!

 

same here, my snow has all gone now, i must get to my lottie today to see how its fared. i havent been down there for weeks

Loopy

 

Same here, the rain has finished it off. I have never been more pleased by the stuff