Winter

No. Identify the risk: frozen container roots, bark damage, wind or bright sun. Each task needs appropriate protection. Consider species, cultivar, age and location. Breathable covers must retain ventilation and avoid breaking branches; a hardy mature plant may need no extra insulation at all.

Assess load and safety first. Fresh light snow on an accessible small crown can be removed carefully while supporting branches. Do not pull off frozen crusts or hit branches: frozen shoots are easily damaged. Avoid standing beneath dangerous hanging breaks; major damage requires suitable tools and a specialist.

Inspect covers, fittings, trunk guards and places where meltwater collects. Material should not lie as a wet mass on a shrub, and guards should not rub bark. Do not pile snow containing de-icing chemicals beside plants. Record recurring puddles and ice: in spring, fix the runoff source rather than only the effects of each thaw.