20/11/2006 15:01 - Time for bed!

As I'm sure you are aware, it can get a little chilly at this time of year, especially in the north! The frost arrived about three weeks ago, heralding the start of winter at Brodsworth. However, we were prepared. For three weeks prior to the first frost we had all been scrutinising various weather forecasts and, as is usually the case when people watch different TV channels, we all reported different weather conditions each morning. We decided, in the end, that checking the BBC weather website at lunch time each day would give us consistency if nothing else, and so, at twelve noon each day we paid strict attention to the evening's weather predictions.

Such vigilance is necessary in this season of change - it's a matter of life and death! Not for us hardy gardeners obviously, but for the more delicate members of our plant collections. Specifically, the tree ferns, (Dicksonia antarctica) located in the fern dell and a small corner of the quarry. These magnificent, prehistoric-looking ferns can quite easily be killed off by a harsh frost, and they are particularly susceptible in the early part of the winter when the rains are more frequent too. If moisture is allowed to get in to the unprotected crown of the plant, followed by a frosty night, then the new, curled-up fronds inside the crown could easily be badly damaged, if not killed. It's not only the crown you have to worry about, the trunk also needs extra care. The reason for this is that the majority of a tree fern's root network can be found on its trunk, giving the trunk its attractive, hairy appearance, and these fine, thread-like roots can also easily be killed of by a harsh frost. Both of these parts must be protected from the frosts all winter long if the plant is to survive.

There are many different methods you can apply to help your tree fern through the British weather. We tend to go for natural-looking hessian and straw. First, we wrap the whole trunk, from top to bottom, in two layers of thin hessian, tied on with standard garden string. Then we pack the crown with lots of fine straw, similar to the stuff you can buy for your rabbit hutch. Try not to pack it in too tightly or it will just hold the moisture instead of soaking it up and drying out in the breeze. Don't worry if you see it lying around on the floor a few days later - it'll just be the birds or squirrels nicking it for their nests - there should still be enough to go around if you've put plenty in. In colder climates, it may be necessary to put thin layers of straw in between the hessian for extra protection. Other methods include bubble wrap (not particularly attractive or eco friendly) and old fronds. In their native habitat, tree ferns hang on to their old fronds for years to form a protective skirt around the trunk, although this doesn't afford the crown much protection though. We also use hessian to protect our chusan palms (Trachycarpus fortuneii). Both of these species can easily tolerate temperatures as low as -15C, but it's not the cold that will kill 'em, it's Jack Frost!