Figaro's Blog

January 30, 2025

Prepare Your Garden for a Cold Snap

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After a mild winter, an unexpected deep freeze can catch gardeners off guard. Plants that have started to break dormancy, tender perennials, and even soil health can all be affected by a sudden temperature drop. With temperatures in Vancouver expected to dip to -8°C next week, now is the time to take action to protect your garden.

Why cold snaps can be hard on plants

Plants are often tougher than we think. But while the majority of outdoor plants commonly seen in Vancouver gardens are hardy well below freezing, a mild winter followed by a sudden freeze can be particularly damaging. As we saw in January 2024, broadleaf evergreens suffered when we saw a stretch of below-zeros days following a milder-than-usual winter. You may have noticed that some plants have already started putting out new growth. Tender shoots and buds are more vulnerable to frost damage, and soil may be at risk of heaving, which can expose roots to the cold.

Although we don’t expect next week’s weather to bring about the same destruction as last year’s, it’s still wise to take steps to prepare your garden for a cold snap.

How to protect your garden for a cold snap

Apply mulch

Crushed oak leaves used as a mulch around radicchio seedlings in a garden

Dry, shredded leaves are an excellent mulch for the winter vegetable garden.

Applying mulch has at least two purposes in preparing for cold weather: First, it insulates the soil, keeping plants’ roots warmer and prevent heaving. Second, it prevents any erosion that may occur due to heavy rains. Mulching has additional benefits, too, including weed suppression, moisture retention, and soil building.

If your soil has been bare through the winter—or the mulch you applied in fall has been flattened—now is a good time to add a new 2-inch layer of compost, shredded leaves, or straw.

Even if plants’ leaves or flowers are damaged by cold, mulching helps to ensure the plant itself will recover.

Cover vulnerable plants

If you have early bloomers or semi-hardy trees or perennials like rosemary, fig, citrus, daphne, or phormium, cover them with frost cloth, burlap, or even old bedsheets overnight. Remove covers during the day when temperatures rise above freezing to prevent excess moisture buildup.

Frost cloth or row cover provides a few degrees of protection for vulnerable plants, and can be reused year after year.

Move containers to shelter

hands wrapping a rosemary plant in row cover fabric

Garden fleece is designed to protect borderline-hardy and tender plants from frost.

Potted plants are more susceptible to cold damage because their roots aren’t insulated by the ground. Move them to a garage, porch, or other sheltered spot if possible. Cluster pots together for additional warmth. If they must stay outside, wrap pots in burlap or bubble wrap for added insulation.

Water before the freeze

Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil. Watering your garden a day before the cold snap can help plants tolerate the temperature drop.

Avoid walking on wet soil

This tip won’t save plants from freezing, but it will help them recover more easily in spring. Foot traffic compacts soil, restricting root penetration, limiting access to water and nutrients, reducing aeration, and overall hindering growth. If the ground is wet and unfrozen, try to stay off garden beds.

Preparing your garden for snow

Snow, with some branches poking through the surface

Snow can actually insulate plants from the cold. Just ensure it’s not damaging branches. Photo by Andrea Windolph on Unsplash

Snow can be both a benefit and a risk for your garden. A layer of snow acts as natural insulation, protecting plant roots from freezing temperatures by trapping heat in the soil. However, heavy, wet snow can also weigh down branches and stems, causing breakage—especially for broadleaf evergreens and shrubs with delicate limbs. To prepare your garden, gently shake off accumulated snow from vulnerable plants to prevent damage. For extra protection, use burlap or twine to loosely tie together branches of upright shrubs like cedars and junipers, reducing the risk of splitting under the weight of snow.

Long-term benefits of cold protection

Taking these precautions not only helps your plants survive this cold spell but also sets them up for a strong start in spring. Protected soil maintains its structure, perennials avoid unnecessary stress, and your garden will be ready to bounce back as soon as the weather warms again.

A little preparation now can make all the difference in how your garden thrives this year. Stay warm, and happy gardening!


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