30gsm Non-Woven Frost Protection Fleece 3.2m x 5m | Winter Spring Garden Cover | UV Protected Landscape Fabric

Frost protection fleece is one of those things you reach for more often than you expect; a roll kept in the shed will earn its place from the first cold snap of autumn through to the last frost of spring.

This listing is for the 30gsm weight in a 3.2 metre by 5 metre sheet, a size that covers a decent run of brassicas or a couple of rows of early salad without needing to be joined. The 30gsm weight sits in the middle of the range: heavier than the lightest fleece, which is suited to spring alone, and lighter than the 50gsm, which is the one to reach for in hard winter conditions. It is the weight most gardeners find themselves using from October through to April, when temperatures are unreliable and a single overnight frost can set back weeks of work.

The fleece works by trapping warmth and raising humidity close to the plant, which encourages germination and keeps growth moving when the air outside has turned sharp. It is permeable to light, rain and air, so you can lay it directly over a row and leave it without worrying about ventilation or watering; the plants beneath carry on largely as they would in open ground, only a degree or two warmer. It also takes the edge off hail and wind, which can do as much damage to young growth as cold alone.

The material is UV-stabilised, which matters if you want it to last more than a season or two; fleece that is not treated for UV breaks down quickly in summer storage and will not give you the same coverage the following year. Fold it loosely, keep it out of direct light when not in use, and it should see several seasons of work.

• 30gsm non-woven frost protection fleece
• Sheet size: 3.2m x 5m
• Permeable to light, rainwater and air; can be laid directly over crops
• Raises temperature and humidity beneath the cover
• UV-stabilised for repeated seasonal use
• Suited to autumn through spring use; heavier 50gsm available for winter, lighter 17gsm for spring only
• Other sizes and weights listed separately

Lay it before the forecast turns rather than after; fleece put on in a hurry over already-frosted plants does less good than fleece already in place. In the first season you will notice the difference most with early sowings, where the extra warmth under the cover can bring germination forward by a week or more.