How much damage is this snow and cold doing?

Hi AQ

Oh, gosh, it's heartbreaking isn't it when hard work is destroyed. I think there will be gardeners everywhere mourning the losses of favourite tender plants and shrubs after all this. I brought what I could indoors including lugging a beloved olive tree in, but I fully expect various plants such as agapanthus will have gone. I've come to be quite pragmatic about the "gardeners' struggle" - I always say its a jungle outside your back door, it isn't tame, and that applies to the plants as well as the animals

But I'm as hopeful as John over the new hedge. As long as the snow hasn't smashed down the new whips, they're really well adapted to cope. They're effectively sleeping now and won't mind how cold it is, and their slender supple structure means that snow rarely breaks them. I'm fingers crossed that they will have weathered it better than almost anything.

Adrian

Unknown said:

"It's not fair!" I want to scream and shout. I no sooner discover gardening than God send this mess. I got home about 4.30pm yesterday- it was nearly dark, which is why the following  pictures look a wee bit dramatic. There has been no noticable thaw today. We still have about a foot and a half of snow. My beech hedge is a funny shape, and my big box is probably destroyed.

 

What will be happening to all the half hardies I planted last summer. -14 it was on Thursday night:(

 

tree

'nother tree

fancy fir

the garden. where the hedge is (was?)

Thank you. I'm calm. Really.

We've thawed hugely since last weekend. Tonight will be the first night of frost since Monday. I might get a chance to take some photos in daylight this weekend and see where we're at.

So glad to hear it AQ. I see even your experts have been on line with advice again. Proves how involved we all became in your garden. Our garden is still covered in snow but a thaw has started. 

My garden was neglected last year. I'm feeling a bit smug now, having saved myself all that work

At this time of year I go in and out in the dark, but with the reduction in the piles of snow, I could see from the front door light this morning that the clematis I planted in June or July last year (it's growing up the dead back of the fir with the snow on to in the photos) is brown and, if not dead, then dead looking. I'll have a better look in daylight tomorrow, but does anyone have any idea if it will come again?

SOMEBODY's eaten the leaves off all my hollies. I suspect rabbits.

I wouldn't rule out the clematis making a return, we've had them looking dead and then they come back to life in the spring again! 

I have an evergreen clematis, new last summer. It grew and grew and has been lovely and green all winter, but is now showing signs of dying - brown leaves etc.  I am worried because it is an early flowerer. (and it cost a fortune!!!)