With much of the UK basking in glorious sunshine and temperatures climbing to 27C this week, it’s tempting to pack away winter gardening gear for good. However, experts are urging homeowners not to be too hasty when it comes to one humble item: garden fleece.
While it might seem unlikely during a mini heatwave, spring weather is notoriously unpredictable. Late frosts are still a real threat, particularly during clear, chilly nights, and your tender seedlings and blossoming fruit trees could pay the price if you’re caught unprepared.
Garden fleece, also known as horticultural fleece, is a lightweight material made from polyester with a soft, felt-like texture. It’s part of a wider family of materials known as crop covers, but fleece is often a gardener’s first line of defence in unpredictable spring conditions.
Fleece is incredibly versatile, offering protection against frost, wind, hail, and even pests. It can also be used to line greenhouses for extra winter insulation or placed over soil to help warm it ahead of sowing, giving you a valuable head start on the growing season.
Thanks to its porous nature, garden fleece allows both air and water to pass through, creating a healthier and more balanced environment for plants. Unlike polythene, which can trap heat and moisture in an unhealthy way, fleece provides protection without suffocating delicate shoots.
With the right care, a good-quality fleece can last gardeners several years, making it a sustainable investment. Look for options that are UV-stabilised, tear-resistant, washable, and rot-proof to get the most out of your purchase.
One such affordable option currently available is the Yuzet Frost Protection Fleece Winter Plant Cover, which you can pick up at B&Q for just £10 for a 2x10m sheet. It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind it brings when a cold snap strikes.
Spring is actually one of the best times to make use of your fleece, even if the days feel warm. Laying fleece over soil for a week or two before sowing can gently warm it up, helping seeds germinate faster once planted.
Newly planted frost-tender crops, such as courgettes and tomatoes, can be kept safe from those late-night chills with a simple drape of fleece. Early potatoes, another popular spring planting choice, also benefit from being tucked up under a fleece layer if frost is forecast.
If you’re lucky enough to have fruit trees in blossom, fleece can be a saviour in protecting the delicate flowers from frost damage, which can otherwise severely affect your harvest later in the year.
Although it’s tempting to pack everything away when the sun comes out, keeping a roll of fleece handy can save a lot of heartache (and replanting) in the weeks ahead. British springtime has a habit of surprising us when we least expect it.
So before you celebrate the warmer weather by clearing out your shed, make sure that trusty garden fleece stays within easy reach, your garden will thank you for it.
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