With the colder autumn weather now arrived, plant and garden lovers across the UK are seeking advice on how to protect their house plants and gardens from the elements. 

With temperatures expected to drop further, head gardener Mark Dwelly at Audley Villages shares his green fingered insights and 10 simple tips to protect and care for your plants. 

Mr Dwelly said: "The transition to autumn can be a challenging time for plant life, so it is important that people take extra care of their gardens and potted plants. Decreasing daylight, colder temperatures, fluctuating moisture levels, and the potential for frost creates a stressful environment for some plants.

"Understanding these challenges and adapting the way you care for your plants during the coming months is essential to help them thrive as the climate becomes cooler. These 10 simple tips can provide your plants with that extra bit of protection they need, giving them the best chance to thrive."

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Invest in frost-resistant plants

When planning your garden, you may want to consider choosing plants that are more resistant to frost. In the UK, hardy flower species like pansies, coronillas, hellebores, and camellias are often great options to withstand the colder months.

Move or cover delicate plants

If you have delicate or potted plants, move them indoors or to a sheltered area such as a greenhouse or under cover. For bedded or larger potted plants that can’t be moved indoors, try using purpose-built plant covers, or even a fabric like hessian to cover them overnight, especially on colder days.

Lay down a bed of mulch to protect your plants

Try applying a bed of mulch, (an organic bark-life material found online and in most garden centres) to the soil surrounding your plants. The mulch will help to protect them by regulating the soil temperature and providing a protective layer against colder temperatures. Ideal for potted and bedded outdoor plants, mulch can also provide a barrier from drying winds if the weather suddenly changes.

Continue to water your plants daily

It’s important to continue watering your plants daily, even as the weather gets cooler. Well-hydrated plants are better equipped to withstand temperature fluctuations, and your plants still need moisture to thrive.

Prune your plants sensibly

During the colder months, it is important to trim dead or diseased branches back to promote growth and prevent the spread of diseases. This can also reduce the risk of damage during storms. However, it is important not to over-prune them, as this can encourage younger growths, which may struggle to withstand colder temperatures.

Maximise your plants’ time in sunlight

As the nights draw in and the days become shorter, your plants have less opportunity to photosynthesise and benefit from direct sunlight. This is why it is important to check that your plants are not constantly in the shade. While it is important to protect them in sheltered areas from windier weather, always ensure that your plants still have access to the sunlight they need to thrive.   

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Fertilise your plants

It is important to fertilise your plants as the temperature changes, as this gives the nutrients they need to withstand the colder months. Ideally, give them a balanced, slow-release fertiliser, or make your own from compost, grass clippings, or even tea. However, avoid using too much fertiliser, as this might encourage new growths that are vulnerable to being damaged as the cold sets in.

Use natural remedies to prevent pests

People often associate pests with warmer weather, however pests like aphids, spire mites, and whiteflies can be an issue at any time of year. This means that it is still important to regularly check your plants for damage from pests. If you spot an infestation, promptly remove any affected leaves to prevent their spread, and consider applying natural remedies, such as a diluted vinegar, soap and water solution, or insecticidal soaps, to keep the pests at bay.

Regularly clear fallen leaves

As autumn sets in, trees begin to shed their leaves. Although the autumnal leaves may look nice, once fallen they start to decay, which provides ideal shelter and a breeding group for pests to thrive in, especially if they fall around your bedded plants. To prevent them from spreading to your plants, it is important to regularly remove nearby fallen leaves. 

Plant protective shrubbery

Autumn often brings higher chances of storms and windier weather, which threatens to damage or uproot more delicate plant life. One way to ward against this is to plant larger shrubs nearby, which act as a windbreak to protect more fragile plants. Alternatively, temporary windbreak barriers can be bought to protect from sudden gusts.