Native Plant Trust

The recent heavy snow and Arctic temperatures have me thinking about how gardens react to winter conditions. Can too much snow harm or help my plants? What steps can I take to ensure my trees and shrubs are prepared for the stresses of winter?

This week, I will discuss the benefits of snow cover, which provides stable conditions for dormant plants. I’ll also consider how proactive tree and shrub care can greatly help mitigate risk from heavy snow loads.

When I was a child, snowstorms meant one thing: days off from school, outdoor play, and sledding. As an adult, my relationship with snow has changed. I find great beauty in an expanse of unbroken snow, the way drifts reflect wind patterns, the stems and seedheads of last year’s perennials still standing proud, and the dampened silence that accompanies a snowstorm. I delight in seeing the intrepid and ever cheerful black-capped chickadee out and about during and immediately after snowfall, determined not to let the flakes affect its outlook. Snow is inspiring in its many forms, both as a physical substance and as a backdrop for art, ritual, and spirituality.