It might only be September, but planning for the first cold snap of the year is always advisable to protect tender plants.

The first frost dates in the UK vary depending on where you live, but it could be as soon as the end of October for households in Edinburgh and early November for Bournemouth residents.

While frost dates are not set in stone (it's always worth checking your local weather station), they provide helpful guidelines for gardeners wanting their borders and beds to survive until spring.

Frost occurs when garden temperatures fall below freezing, causing moisture to form ice crystals on plants.

frosty leaves on treespinterest
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Unless you have hardy, frost-tolerant plants (such as hellebores or snowdrops), the cold can damage or kill plants by freezing or rupturing cell walls. It's a good idea to protect your garden ahead of winter by covering delicate plants with cold frames or horticultural fleeces.

Want to know when the first frost will hit your area? According to Peckish, the full list of frost dates in the UK is as follows:

Aberdeen: 21st - 30th November

Aberystwyth: 21st - 30th November

Barnsley: 1st - 10th December

Basingstoke: 11th - 20th November

Belfast: 11th - 20th December

Birmingham: 21st - 30th November

Bournemouth: 1st - 10th November

Bristol: 21st - 31st December

Cambridge: 11th - 20th December

Cardiff: 1st - 10th January

Derby: 21st - 30th November

Derry: 21st - 31st December

Dublin: 21st - 30th November

Dundee: 1st - 10th December

Edinburgh: 21st - 31st October

Exeter: 1st - 10th December

Falmouth: Frost rare

Glasgow: 11th - 20th December

Gloucester: 11th - 20th December

Harrogate: 21st - 30th November

Hull: 11th - 20th November

Inverness: 21st - 30th November

Leeds: 21st - 30th November

Liverpool: 1st - 10th December

London: Frost rare

Manchester: 21st - 31st December

Newcastle: 11th - 20th December

Norwich: 11th - 20th December

Nottingham: 21st - 30th November

Oxford: 21st - 30th November

Peterborough: 1st - 10th December

Plymouth: 21st - 31st December

Sheffield: 1st - 10th December

Southampton: 21st - 30th November

Swansea: Frost rare

Weymouth: 1st - 1th January

Wolverhampton: 21st - 30th November

York: 11th - 20th November

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Lisa Joyner
Deputy Daily Editor, Country Living and House Beautiful

 Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.