Overview
- Drain all exterior hoses, outdoor taps, rain barrels, water meters, and garden pumps before freezes to prevent bursts that often cost several hundred euros to repair.
- Water boxwood, cherry laurel, bamboo, rhododendron and other evergreens on frost‑free days to avert winter desiccation when frozen soil blocks moisture uptake.
- After mild spells, give evergreens a thorough soak, with autumn watering of about 30–40 liters per square meter recommended by Öko‑Test to help plants into winter.
- Inspect hedges and shrubs after snowfalls because heavy or refrozen snow can snap branches, and remove accumulation gently with a soft broom or careful shaking.
- Delay major pruning until February and only cut when temperatures are above −5°C, avoiding fresh shoots until forsythia bloom, according to the cited experts.