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First Frosts Trigger Urgent Guidance To Shield Balcony and Potted Plants

Experts say container roots freeze fastest, making overnight covers decisive.

Overview

  • Move containers indoors or to sheltered spots when temperatures dip below roughly 10°C, and insulate pots from the cold ground with wraps or boards to protect root balls.
  • Cover beds and containers with garden fleece for frosty nights, or choose biodegradable alternatives like wool felt, and remove coverings once temperatures rise.
  • Place brought‑in plants in bright, cool rooms at about 5–10°C to avoid heat shock, and avoid shuttling heavy or already acclimated pots repeatedly between indoors and outdoors.
  • Match protection to species: evergreens risk frost‑dryness, Mediterranean plants handle only light frost near −5°C, and many balcony flowers and culinary herbs are especially vulnerable in pots.
  • Use frost guards to stabilize greenhouse temperatures where power is available, and light frost‑protection candles for larger fruit trees before readings fall below freezing.