Frost Protection at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Frost protection is as important as wind protection. Frost in winter is seldom a problem given that there are in excess of 60,000 hardy plants to choose from. Even the coldest areas can be planted up to suit most tastes. Frost at the wrong time of year, on the other hand, will kill plant growth. In valleys or ground hollows you may well get what is known as a "frost pocket." This is when the cold, frosty air sinks at the lowest part of the landscape and collects beneath walls and closely-planted hedges. Frost will also collect under a closely-planted hedge or solid wall. If you thin or remove trees or walls, you will let the cold air flow through rather than trapping it.

START PLANTING a hanging basket in mid- to late spring in warm areas, but wait until early summer in cold regions. Planting can be earlier if a greenhouse or conservatory is available to give the plants protection during cold nights in spring, when frost is forecast. They need a reasonably sunny position.

In order to encourage an annual feast of flowers, it is essential that roses are regularly and carefully pruned. Part of the technique of pruning roses is to make clean cuts slightly above outward-pointing buds. Use sharp secateurs that are large enough to tackle the work. Cuts more than Min wide should be painted with a fungicidal wound paint to prevent the entry of diseases, and to give protection from dampness and frost.