Wake up to winter 15 TOP FROST FIGHTERS: The coldest season is nature's way of telling us it wants a rest. Fine for nature. But for the rest of us, there is a lot to be done - Neil Ross has prepared your chilly checklist

摘要

A hard frost or a dash of snow can transform the bare bones of even the most ordinary garden into something sparkly and special. Once the thermometer drops, nature does the great garden makeover with much more panache than any breathless television show. But picture postcard weather is only part of what winter hurls at us. If you live in a mild part of the country, your conditions may be less picturesque but as treacherous for plants. Torrential rain and occasional gales, made worse by the lack of cover as deciduous shrubs and trees stand bare, are more likely to greet us as we pull back the curtains in the morning. This three-fold onslaught of cold temperatures, harsh winds and waterlogged soil means that, wherever you live, your garden plants canbe tested to their limits. So prepare in advance, fight the frost, and make sure your garden springs back when temperatures are on the up.