By Blake Jackson
Snow is a familiar part of winter, and many people have different opinions about it. Some enjoy winter sports and want heavy snowfall, while others prefer to avoid shoveling or driving in snowy conditions. For plants, snow can be both helpful and harmful.
Snow often benefits landscape plants, including perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and tree roots. A layer of snow acts as natural insulation, helping protect the soil from extreme cold. It also reduces how deep the ground freezes.
When soils freeze too deeply, plant roots may become damaged. This happened in areas that had very little snow last winter, causing roots to freeze and plants to show poor growth, dieback, or even death in the spring.
Snow also protects plant crowns and roots from repeated freezing and thawing, which often happens when soil is bare during winter. Without snow or winter mulch, warm sunlight can heat the soil surface. This may cause soil heaving, which lifts roots out of the soil, leading to damage and drying.
However, heavy or long-lasting snow can create problems. Snow cover provides shelter for small animals such as voles. These animals may feed on the bark at the base of young trees and shrubs, which weakens or kills the plant. Rabbits may also feed more when snow is deep enough for them to reach higher parts of plants.
Homeowners can protect valuable plants by installing wire fencing or hardware cloth around shrubs and young trees. As snow levels rise, it is important to check these barriers to ensure animals cannot climb over them.
Heavy snow on branches can also cause strain. If snow is light and easy to remove, gently brushing it off may help. But if snow is icy or frozen to the branch, it is safer to leave it until it melts. Shaking branches can cause hidden cracks that show damage later. Marking the locations of small shrubs before snowfall can prevent accidental damage from plowed or piled snow.
Snow plays an important role in winter plant health, but careful monitoring helps reduce risks.
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety, Weather