Protecting container-grown nursery stock in winter

From waterlogged containers to inadequate conditioning, understanding the principal causes of winter damage and the measures you can take can take to reduce injury will help to preserve quality and prevent losses. 

This information was last updated in 2005.

Cutting your losses

It is difficult to accurately quantify the value of the national container crop that can be lost during a hard winter but it can be very significant indeed. 

At current industry levels (2005), container plant losses amounting to 5% for example would equate to an equivalent farm gate value approaching £15 m.  

During the winter of 2003/04, considerable damage was done to a range of container stock by frosts of up to 8°C. In an increasingly global and competitive market, the need to reduce such losses is paramount.  

Providing effective winter protection need not be costly; planning ahead and implementing good nursery practice can significantly reduce over-wintering losses. 

Spotting winter injury in container grown nursery stock

The symptoms of winter injury show themselves in different ways. Learn how to spot the signs of damage to your container-grown stock.

Causes of winter-injury in container grown nursery stock

Understanding the range of winter threats to your plants will help you protect your container grown nursery stock.

Acclimatising your container grown nursery stock 

Properly preparing your plants for the onset of winter’s colder months will ensure they stay in top condition.

How to protect your container grown nursery stock 

From where to store them to spacing, drainage and wind-control, here’s how to protect your stock from winter-injury.