Why snow can be good for your lawn and garden
“Are there any issues for my garden that I need to address when there’s heavy snow in the forecast?”
— Javier Alvarez, Chicago
There is little to be concerned with regarding a big snowstorm and your garden. Plants that are not cold hardy in the Chicago region will be adversely affected by the low temperatures that approach zero and go below, but not so much by the snow. I worry much more about my garden when there are long periods of very cold weather without good snow cover.
Snow cover is good for your garden, as it will insulate against any intense cold and fluctuating winter temperatures. The snow cover will help mitigate the temperature extremes and reduce the penetration of cold on days and nights when temperatures are very cold (in the teens and below).
Without snow, the ground can freeze more deeply. Plants that were produced in containers and installed last year can heave out of the ground because of the freeze/thaw cycles that typically occur in late winter and early spring, if they were not mulched last fall. Think of the snow as mulch for your garden, in addition to creating a beautiful winter scene.
A storm with heavy wet snow can be of concern, though. The weight of heavy, wet snow on branches can split or break them and can cause plants such as arborvitae to fall over or be uprooted. It is best to carefully remove snow from plants that may be damaged during a snowstorm to minimize the buildup of snow on the plants.
Once the snow is frozen on the plant, it will be best to let it melt off. One of my evergreen shrubs was almost completely flattened by snow last winter and recovered without any issues once the snow melted. Removing snow that has frozen on a plant can cause a lot of damage as you try to chip it off.
If you have plants that have already been damaged by snow and ice, then there is not much you can do other than prune off any branches that are a safety hazard. Any of your shrubs that get completely covered by a deep snowfall will be OK. Let nature take its course in these situations. Shoveling snow onto some shrubs can cause branches to break from the weight, so be strategic where and how you pile the snow. Try to avoid piling snow mixed with salt from ice melting products onto your garden beds — it’s best to keep this snow on the lawn.
Rabbits and deer will feed on trees and shrubs during the winter so watch your garden for tracks and signs of their feeding. As the snow piles up, the rabbits will be able to reach higher into shrubs to feed and cause more damage. Install netting to protect the plants if you start seeing damage. Repellents can be applied when temperatures are above freezing long enough for them to dry on the plant. The snow will provide cover for animals such as voles that will tunnel under the snow and make trails that become visible in the lawn after the snow melts. The resulting damage to a home lawn is generally not a big issue and is easy to fix.