Storm Eowyn warning to gardeners as Brits told to 'take action now'

The insurer has issued advice for gardeners in areas affected by the storm this weekend to ensure your garden isn't wrecked by the strong winds, rain and snow

As Storm Eowyn hits the UK, experts have offered some handy tips on how to storm-proof your garden.

With the Met Office issuing red, amber and yellow weather warnings, insurer Admiral has suggested several measures to prevent your garden from being ravaged by the severe winds, rain and snow. It advises homeowners to remove hanging baskets and bird feeders that could be swept up by strong winds and cause damage to other parts of your garden or home. If possible, these should be stored in a garage or inside the house.

Items that could be broken or carried away by strong winds - such as pots, furniture and bins - should be secured. If you can't bring them indoors or into a garage, gather them in one area of the garden, tie furniture together and water pots to make them as heavy as possible.

It's crucial to keep these items away from windows or conservatories to prevent potential glass breakage. Additionally, ensure your shed's windows and doors are securely fastened and any structural damage – like holes or patches in the roof – is repaired.

For plants that can't be moved indoors, there are protective measures you can take, reports the Express. Anchor trees and shrubs to the ground by tying them, prune dead and damaged limbs to prevent them from falling off and causing damage, and cover beds and delicate plants with burlap or cloth that's secured to the ground.

Make sure to sort out your drainage before the storm hits, as clogged systems and gutters could lead to a flooded garden if there's heavy rain. Standing water might cause rotting, so it's crucial to clear these areas.

It's also wise to aerate your lawn by poking holes in the soil with a garden tool to strengthen it. The Met Office has issued an exceptionally rare red warning for parts of the UK for tomorrow, with the entire country under some level of alert due to the storm.

Chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen warned: "We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn."

He added: "While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular."