---
title: "First frosts in Ukraine: which flowers need to be covered by the end of September and how to do it properly"
description: "From September 21, a cooling to +10…+17 °C is expected in Ukraine. The RHS and Ukrainian authorities recommend covering dahlias, cannas, begonias, pelargoniums and petunias with agrofiber, and moving container plants indoors."
date: 2026-09-16T10:20:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/first-frosts-ukraine-flower-protection-agrofiber
tags: [gardening, frost-protection, dahlias, canna, begonias, agrofiber, ukraine-weather, autumn-plants]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# First frosts in Ukraine: which flowers need to be covered by the end of September and how to do it properly

![Woman covering dahlias with agrofibre in a garden before the first autumn frosts in late September](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/zamrozki-ukraine-cvety-zashchita-agrovolokno/zamrozki-ukraine-cvety-zashchita-agrovolokno-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- A noticeable cooling in Ukraine is expected from September 21: daytime temperatures down to +10…+17 °C, with intensified rainfall
- Pelargoniums, petunias, fuchsias, dahlias, cannas and begonias require priority protection from frosts
- The main protection method is nighttime covering with agrofiber, removed in the morning; perennials additionally benefit from mulching
- Container-grown heat-loving plants are recommended to be moved indoors before the frosts arrive

In September, nights in Ukraine become noticeably colder, and heat-loving plants in the flower beds require special attention. According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, relatively warm weather still holds across the country on September 16–18: daytime temperatures are expected to reach +20…+27 °C, while nighttime temperatures will be +6…+14 °C. However, climatically, frosts in Ukraine most often fall on the second and third decades of the month, and in the Carpathians and in parts of the northern and central regions they may occur even earlier. Forecaster Natalka Dydenko predicts a noticeable cooling from September 21: daytime temperatures may drop to +10…+17 °C, and rainfall will intensify. It is precisely during this period that gardeners and owners of dacha plots should prepare covering material in advance and determine which plants need protection first.

### Which flowers are at risk: priority list

According to the recommendations of the State Service of Ukraine on Food and Safety, you do not need to cover the entire flower bed during the first cold night — first and foremost, you should protect the most heat-loving crops: pelargoniums, petunias, fuchsias, dahlias, cannas and begonias. Specialists from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) emphasize that begonias are frost-tender plants, pelargoniums will not survive frosts, and dahlias and cannas, despite continuing to bloom in autumn, are also not frost-hardy. Stock and autumn asters tolerate cool weather much better, but their leaves and buds can also be damaged at temperatures close to 0 °C, especially if the plants are young or located in an open, windy spot.

### Agrofiber, mulch and moving indoors: three main protection methods

The simplest and most accessible method is to cover the plants for the night with agrofiber or another lightweight material. Specialists from the Lviv Regional State Administration's Department of Ecology and Natural Resources recommend using agrofiber, film, burlap or dense fabric for physical protection of plants from a sharp drop in temperature. At the same time, it is important not to leave a dense cover in place for too long: after the weather warms up, it should be removed so that the plants receive light and air. For perennials that remain in the soil, mulching provides additional protection for the root system — a thick, dry layer of mulch is especially relevant for cannas in regions with a mild winter. If the plant is growing in a pot or planter, the most practical solution is to move it to a protected indoor space before the frosts arrive. This is especially true for begonias, pelargoniums and petunias, which are traditionally used for summer decoration of flower beds and terraces.

### Species-specific behavior: from dahlias to chrysanthemums

Dahlias continue to bloom in autumn, but the RHS advises covering the flower bed with lightweight agrofiber, removing the cover in the morning. After the first frosts, the damaged foliage is cut off, and the tubers, if necessary, are dug up and moved to a frost-protected location. In a cold climate, cannas are recommended to be dug up after the frost has "blackened" the foliage; in containers they can be moved indoors. Begonias are best moved to an enclosed room before cold nights, and tuberous forms should be prepared for winter storage. Petunias, which are heat-loving seasonal plants, are moved to a protected spot if in pots, while bed-grown ones are covered before a cold night. Pelargoniums should be protected first: the RHS recommends moving them to a dry, bright and frost-protected place, after first inspecting the plants and removing damaged leaves and pests. Chrysanthemums are able to bloom even in cool autumn weather, so September nights are not a reason to remove them from the flower bed, but if a frost is expected, it is better to cover the flowers with agrofiber to preserve the buds and their decorative appearance.

### What to do if the frost has already damaged the foliage

If a frost has already occurred and the above-ground part of the plant has blackened, you should not immediately discard the crop. RHS specialists note that in dahlias and cannas the roots and tubers often remain viable even after the foliage is completely damaged. In such a case, the damaged above-ground part is cut off, and the tubers or rhizomes are dug up and moved to a cool, dark and dry place for storage until spring. For plants that remain in the flower bed over winter, it is important to monitor the weather forecast and keep covering material on hand in order to respond quickly to each cold night.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [First coolings in Ukraine: dahlias, cannas and begonias need to be protected from frosts](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/useful/pershi-poholodannya-ukrayini-zhorzhini-kanni-1789552204.html) - Основной источник: рекомендации RHS, данные гидрометцентра, прогноз Диденко, советы по укрытию агроволокном и мульчированию
- [Cooling is approaching in Ukraine: which flowers need to be protected from the first frosts](https://tsn.ua/ru/other/v-ukraine-blizitsya-poholodanie-kakie-tsvety-nuzhno-zaschitit-ot-pervyh-zamorozkov-3169724.html) - Дополнительный источник: подтверждение списка теплолюбивых растений и методов защиты, рекомендации Львовской ОВ

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: When is the first noticeable cooling expected in Ukraine in 2026?
**A:** According to forecaster Natalka Dydenko's forecast, a noticeable cooling is expected from September 21, 2026: daytime temperatures may drop to +10…+17 °C, and rainfall will intensify. On September 16–18, warm weather still holds — daytime temperatures of +20…+27 °C.

### Q: Which flowers should be protected from frosts first?
**A:** According to the State Service of Ukraine on Food and Safety, priority protection is required for pelargoniums, petunias, fuchsias, dahlias, cannas and begonias. Stock and autumn asters tolerate cool weather better, but they should also be covered when temperatures approach 0 °C.

### Q: What is the best way to cover plants in the flower bed from nighttime cold?
**A:** Specialists recommend agrofiber, film, burlap or dense fabric. The cover is put on for the night and removed in the morning so that the plants receive light and air. For perennials, additional mulching of the root system is also beneficial.

### Q: What to do with potted begonias and pelargoniums before the frosts?
**A:** Container-grown heat-loving plants — begonias, pelargoniums, petunias — are recommended to be moved to an enclosed room or another dry, bright and frost-protected place. Before final winter storage, it is worth inspecting the plants and removing damaged leaves and pests.

### Q: Can dahlias and cannas be saved if the frost has already blackened the foliage?
**A:** Yes. RHS specialists note that in dahlias and cannas the roots and tubers often remain viable even after the above-ground part is completely damaged. The damaged foliage is cut off, and the tubers are dug up and moved to a cool, dark and dry place for storage until spring.