Depending on the location of your garden and the position of your fruit plants, it may be necessary to protect trees and bushes from the worst of the British weather.

Wind

Exposure to wind can cause damage to branches, the loss of fruit blossom and the reduction or loss of crops. Windy weather may also discourage pollinating insects, which will also greatly reduce cropping.

Make sure that your garden contains an effective windbreak system to baffle and filter wind, and avoid planting fruit trees and bushes in draughty sites such as between two buildings. Remember that semi-permeable barriers such as hedges are far more effective than solid windbreaks, which can actually cause wind to become more turbulent. Our section on Understanding Climate has more information on how to set up a wind protection system.

Frost

Sudden spring frosts can cause serious damage to fruit trees and bushes by killing or injuring buds, flowers or fruitlets. Prolonged winter frosts can also damage bark and cause dieback; prevent this as much as possible by selecting frost-hardy cultivars if your garden is regularly subjected to frost.

Protect small trees, bushes and strawberry plants from forecast frosts by covering them in layers of hessian, newspaper or fleece to trap in warm air and insulate the plant. The covers should be removed in the daytime once the temperatures have risen above freezing point. There are more tips and ideas to shelter your plants from frost in our section on Protection from the Elements.