Frozen plants: what to do?

Your garden is frosted? Not panic! The plant resources are amazing. And for plants that have suffered from the cold, some actions will be sufficient to help them until spring.

Winter can be tough, but these rigors that bully our gardens will benefit them on sunny days.
Periods of extreme cold kill some parasites and garden pests (eggs, larvae and adults in hibernation, but also molds).
The winter cold is essential to the recovery of activity number of seeds and buds, even if they live in slow motion during the winter.
Snow remains for plants the best protection against the cold. In addition, the flakes provide some nutrients (especially nitrogen) to the ground.
Finally, the gel accelerates the decomposition of dead leaves and green manures, quickly transforming organic matter assimilated by plants. Spring and the recovery of vegetation, soil will be even more fruitful!
Nature has provided all
The gel was visually spectacular consequences (brown leaves lying ...) on the aerial part of plants, but most often the root damage are low or zero.
Wait before judging and do not rush to tear or cut any. Let the foliage and flowers wilted or flabby: they play the role of winter protection for stem at ground level.
In the garden: clean, aerate, mulch, butter
Remove leaves softened or starting to decompose. In case of prolonged thaw, débuttez your artichokes to prevent rotting and withering plants. By heavy frost, from - 5 ° C, replace a mound of earth and straw to protect them.
Despite the cold weather, it is land that root vegetables the more rustic (leeks, parsnips, carrots ...) are best stored. Add a layer of mulch on the ground for easy picking.
For the chassis, there is nothing else to do but wait as long as the thermometer rises. Then consider the open sunny days to avoid excessive condensation.
Give air to the fish
Fish may lack oxygen. But do not break the ice abruptly: they could not withstand the shock and consume more oxygen as a result of the panic caused.
To help them breathe, melt the ice with a heated plate or place the bottom of a pan filled with hot water. Once a basin area has been cleared, any risk of suffocation is avoided.
Place a piece of wood, a large bundle or ball of soft plastic to prevent surface water from freezing completely.
Watering early in the thaw

With almost no activity during the winter, deciduous plants are very sensitive to cold. It is not the same for persistent vegetation which only slowed during this period. In case of severe frost, the foliage of shrubs burn a bit fragile but their root system remains intact, well protected underground.

In spring, young shoots pierce the lower branches. Therefore wait until May / June to assess the extent of damage. There will be time to cut the dead wood. Meanwhile, when it is warmer, water conifers and evergreens (camellias, rhododendrons ...). Cold spells and prolonged dry dehydrated plants.

Review the garden turning water into ice, freezing earth raises, exposing the roots of recent plantings. Take a tour of your shrub plantings to settle the soil.

Monitor cautious

Sheltered behind their shields, plants no longer fear the chilly cold.

Vigilance is still required. In the garden, tour the plant cautious to ensure that their protection against freezing were not displaced by the weather. Collect litter of dead leaves or straw, put a piece of screen over and a few bricks. Lift and readjust the wind: reeds, forcing veil, bubble plastic sheets ... Also check the condition of the tutors located at the foot of young trees.

Ventilate potted plants

With jellies, potted plants can take a look shriveled or withered. But the hardiest plants should soon recover. However, make sure your pots: after a few days of thaw, ventilate for a few hours in the early afternoon, swathed plants.
Grown in pots, plants, even the most hardy, suffering from dehydration during the coldest winter. Take the opportunity to sprinkle with water unglazed, monthly watering is sufficient. Let the water drain, and replace your coverage for the night.
If a severe cold wave is expected, strengthen your protections roots. Improve insulation pots rows of concrete or tile intercalating polystyrene plates. Another solution: put the pots (light!) In larger containers and slide the straw between the two walls.