Steal a march on Jack Frost

AFTER a mild start, late November saw winter truly kick in with colder nights and early frosts in northern areas.

- DAVID DOMONEY

CARE: Star jasmine shrub SHELTER: Covering roses COSY: Wrapping a fern in hessian

So now is the perfect time to prepare your garden before temperatures dip further.GREENHOUSE GROWING

If you have space, a greenhouse is one of the most effective ways to protect plants as winter approaches. It creates a sheltered environment, softens frosts, keeps excess rain off foliage, and captures warmth on bright days so young plants, salads and half-hardy specimens keep growing.

A British-made Keder Greenhouse goes further, with multilayered bubble design insulated cladding that reduces heat loss, diffuses light and withstands harsh weather, giving vulnerable plants a more stable home.

PROTECTING CONTAINERS

Pots are more exposed to cold than borders because their roots sit above ground, and thin terracotta or ceramic containers are especially at risk of cracking as water freezes.

Group containers against a house wall, fence or dense hedge to trap extra warmth, reduce wind exposure and create a sheltered microclimate.