Protect exotics from the cold
PREPARING small tender plants such as pelargoniums for winter is relatively straightforward. You lift and pot them, take cuttings and then consign them to a frost-free greenhouse or porch, giving them minimal care until spring. Larger exotics, such as cannas, banana plants, dahlias and some fruit trees, can pose more of a problem. There’s their size for one thing – it may not be possible or practical to move them undercover. So what do you do then? This is where horticultural fleece and bubblewrap become your key allies in the fight against winter’s cold. They are relatively cheap and long-lasting, and can be layered around plants until they give adequate insulation. On these pages, I’ll look at protecting bananas, canna lilies and dahlias, and I’ll also suggest ways of keeping all your undercover…