First frost: protection

[EeyoreIsh]

I've a few plants that need some protection over winter (olives, young fruit shrubs etc). In addition to mulching, I'm looking for some horticultural fleece, as that's what rhs recommend. But I've no idea how to apply it, where to get it from, etc!

Any advice welcome. Some plants are movable, others not.

Can I use bubble wrap instead?

b&q

Depends a bit on where you are as to how low temps will get. Olives will hate the wet as well as the cold. If in pots, raise pot off the ground and wrap it in bubble wrap. Put fleece over the top growth of the plant - drape it over the top. A big thick mulch will protect the roots/crown from cold and wet.

I do not cover my Olive : but its Physic Garden stock so hard as nails
Fleece is to bubble wrap as goretex is to cheap waterproof
BUT
most UK fruit should not need fleece

sources : ebay is great, as is b&q

Thanks. Last winter I mulched the olives and they survived but looked very sad come the spring.

Some of the other plants are still quite young, like blueberries. And in an exposed position.

We'll try b&q then.

Cheapo horticultural fleece in Wilcos :)

we don't have a Wilcos here

Thank you! My DH is very impressed, as we were having this very same conversation earlier.

I thought all garden centres sold fleece by the roll.
My potted olive survived well last winter, in the corner of house and boundary wall (SW), but I lined a larger pot with bubblewrap and put olive pot inside to protect roots, only putting fleece cover on when remembering. Lots of flowers later plus some olives, so seems ok.