In some temperate climates, it is possible to garden outdoors, unprotected, year-round. In these areas it never or rarely snows. But for those of us who live in a less temperate climate, snow has probably already fallen on the ground, or will be soon.
If you’re like me, you may find it hard to let go of the garden this time of year. While some season extension techniques, such as frost cloth and greenhouse plastic, can keep cold-hardy vegetables growing a little longer, there still comes a time when even the hardiest annuals succumb to the snow and the cold.
Although I admire the beauty of a blanket of white, I still miss the green garden in the middle of summer. But not everything is bad. After all, a snowy garden has some surprising benefits! Some perennials, such as blueberries, lilacs, and peach trees, require a few hours of chilling to bloom the following spring. Chill hours refer to the time a plant needs to be below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
Learning about these Benefits of cold and snowy winter. It has made me appreciate this season of slowing down and hibernating.
Snow acts as an insulator
The snow is 90-95% airwhich makes it an excellent insulator. There’s a reason the Inuit built igloos out of ice and dense snow to keep warm in frigid temperatures. Due to the insulating properties of snowIgloos can retain body heat to stay warmer than the outside air temperature.
Similarly, a layer of freshly fallen snow can protect perennials from an approaching cold snap. For overwintering perennials, it is especially important to keep an eye on the weather ahead. A sudden cold snap before perennials go dormant can severely damage and kill your plants.
But if the cold snap is preceded by snowfall, don’t worry! The blanket of snow will retain heat around the root zone of the plants and protect them from the bitter cold.
Snow prevents temperature fluctuations
A blanket of snow covering the garden also acts as a climate moderator by avoiding temperature fluctuations. Especially during the beginning and end of winter, there can be temperature swings from mild to freezing, sometimes overnight. A layer of snow can protect against this freeze-thaw cycle and prevent these temperature fluctuations from confusing or damaging your plants.
Without snow, the warm sun could trick perennials and bulbs into sprouting. You will sometimes see this with garlic bulbs planted in the fall. During a year with a mild start to winter, they may sprout and bore into the soil.
In late winter, when longer days begin to warm the soil, daffodils are famous for appearing before the threat of frost has passed. A layer of snow tells these plants that it is not yet time to resume growth.
Snow provides nitrogen
Another surprising benefit of snow is that it adds nitrogen to the soil. For this reason, it is sometimes called “poor man’s fertilizer.” Both rain and snow provide nitrogen to your plants. That’s why the garden looks so green, lush and vibrant after the rain.
As snowflakes fall through the atmosphere, they pick up nitrogen. The snow then delivers this nitrogen to the ground as it melts. This can be a much-needed boost to plants in spring, especially after winter dormancy.
Snow provides water
Even though the heat of summer has passed, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done watering your garden, specifically overwintering perennials. This is especially important for newly planted perennials during their first winter.
A good rule of thumb for perennials you are trying to establish over the winter is to water them as needed, as long as the air temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) and the ground is not frozen. Check soil moisture in the top few inches of soil. to determine if these plants need a drink.
The caveat to the rule of thumb mentioned above is that you don’t need to water your perennials if, you guessed it, snow is forecast! Snow will provide much-needed moisture these plants over the winter and limits the need for hand watering, which is great for gardeners who prefer a break from winter garden maintenance.
Snow is nature’s mulch
There are many reasons for different types of mulch, including protecting the soil from erosion, adding organic matter to the soil, and retaining moisture. Snow can provide some of these benefits too!
During the winter, the Snow protects the soil from sun exposure and wind erosion. Those of us who live in areas where snowfall tends to linger for long periods get all the benefits of snow as mulch. A constant layer of snow on the ground can also help the soil retain existing moisture.
Snow is a seed starter
The cold, wet conditions that snow provides are exactly what is needed for certain seeds to sprout in spring. Cold stratification occurs naturally when seeds are sown outdoors in late fall or early winter. You will see this occur naturally when many plants dry out and produce seeds in the fall.
Its seeds fall to the ground and germinate the following spring. Without this period of cold stratification, some seeds may remain dormant and never germinate. The warm weather of spring after the cold, wet winter indicates that it is time to sprout.
Some examples of seeds that require cold stratification include milkweed, black eyed susan, larkspurand echinacea. In areas that do not receive snow, you may need to simulate this period of cold stratification by placing the seeds in the refrigerator. Without this simulated dormancy period, it is possible to germinate some seeds, but the germination rate may be much lower. But for those of us who receive regular snowfall in winter, Mother Nature takes care of the cold stratification task.
Snow reveals visitors to your garden
An often-overlooked benefit of freshly fallen snow: It can reveal a variety of footprints and can give you information about visitors or residents of your yard that might otherwise go unseen. If your goal is to create a wildlife-friendly garden, seeing footprints is a fun reward for your work.
At other times, you may want to keep an eye out for unwanted guests and their predators. I live in a suburban area surrounded by farms where there are many working cats. At one point this year, I saw some mice running around my yard. Shortly after, the cats appeared.
Other than their footprints in the snow giving them away, he wouldn’t have known the cats were there. They seem to hunt mainly at night. The snow also revealed the location of the mice and where they were sheltering.
Living in a rural area or not, you will be surprised What footprints appear in your gardens?. Birds, rabbits, mice, cats, foxes, skunks, coyotes and more, depending on where you live. Most wild animals avoid humans and you would never know they are there apart from the tracks they leave behind.
Final thoughts
While a layer of snow covering your garden has many benefits, it is important to mention that heavy, wet snow can damage young trees and shrubs. If you see a plant bent under the weight of snow, gently wipe it to the side. Don’t be tempted to remove icicles that have formed on plants, as this can cause the bark to peel off or tender twigs to break. Just leave it in place to melt on its own.
All in all, a snowy garden has more advantages than disadvantages. If your plants suffer damage during the winter, it is more likely due to extremely low air temperatures than the snow itself. Perennial plants have survived winter for millions of years without human intervention.
