Gardening expert issues winter warning about plants you 'shouldn't touch until February'

Gardening experts have weighed in on the "biggest" mistakes people make when tending to their plants over the cold winter months.

As the more extreme weather sets in during the early winter, with plants subjected to not only rain and wind, but also icy conditions, gardeners often rush to protect their hard work.

Some of the common seasonal tasks include working on shelters, staking, protecting pots, mulching and moving plants around, according to the RHS.

Yet, with all things considered, the conditions certainly aren't ideal for your plants, but two gardening experts have shared eight pearls of wisdom to help you weather the storm, reports the Guardian.

1. Be wary of winter tidying

Alice Vincent, a gardening columnist at the Guardian, said: "One of the biggest winter gardening mistakes people make is tidying up their more structural perennials too early.

"Grasses and sculptural plants such as Phlomis russeliana, fennel, sedum, hydrangea and echinacea conjure magical shadow play in low winter sunlight and leave seeds for the birds. I wouldn’t touch them until late February at the earliest.”

2. Consider planting evergreens

Alice went on to recommend holly and ivy and said Fatsia japonica generates "drama" due to its large, tropical-style leaves, while Clematis urophylla will flower on the "darkest days."

3. Make sure your bulbs are planted

The columnist reminded people that you can plant your bulbs all the way up to January and also suggested opting for a loose colour palette and protecting your pots with a cloche.

4. Be mindful of windowsills

Giselle Leon, the publication's expert on houseplants, explained that when people have heavy curtains, it can make the temperature drop on the windowsill, which can, in turn, impact your plants.

5. Don't put your plants next to the radiator

It might seem like a good idea, but the heat from radiators will likely dehydrate your plants, so it's always best to opt for sunlight.

6. Put away the watering can

Overwatering can result in something called root rot, a disease that can kill your plants.

7. Remember the 12C rule

If your cacti and succulents are sat in temperatures below 12C, you can put them at risk, so it's important to keep them in a warm area.

8. Hold off on the fertiliser

It's important to remember that plants need to rest in the winter, meaning you could damage them if you add fertiliser.

Meanwhile, if you want to protect that carefully cultivated lawn over the winter, it's important not to walk on the frozen grass or it will break and die, Fiona Jenkins, a gardening expert at MyJobQuote, told the Express.

As you probably suspected, preparing your grass for the cold is a case of taking some simple steps before the cold sets in, with just a lawn mower and aerator required.

Fiona said: "Before winter sets in, there are things you can do to protect your grass. Raise the height of the mower blades in autumn to cut the grass to no lower than two to three inches.

"This will allow it to absorb enough nutrients and moisture to survive the cold weather."