Protecting shrubs from frost

Most shrubs survive the winter without any protection. Some however, such as hyssop ( Agastache ), penstemons ( Penstemon ), red hot poker ( Kniphofia ) and leadwort ( Ceratostigma ), need protection. Cover them with a thick layer of leaves topped with a few twigs of evergreen to prevent the leaves from blowing away. As soon as the other shrubs begin to shoot in the spring, you can remove the winter protection.