Snow and Ice in Garden

snow covers an inch of ice in my southern apiary. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Snow and Ice in Garden

It’s easy to complain about winter snow and ice. However, there also are benefits to having this precipitation, starting with a reduction in areas with on-going drought. The following are pros and cons of ice in the garden and some suggestions on how to manage it.

Pros of Snow and Ice in the Garden

  1. Insulation for Plants

    • Snow acts as a blanket: It traps air and insulates the soil, protecting plant roots and bulbs from extreme cold temperatures. This reduces the risk of frost damage.

    • Prevents soil heaving: By maintaining a steady ground temperature, snow prevents the freeze-thaw cycles that can push plants out of the soil.

  2. Moisture Reservoir

    • Slow water release: When snow melts, it provides a steady supply of water that can penetrate deeply into the soil, replenishing moisture reserves in spring.

  3. Protection for Perennials and Seeds

    • Shield against wind chill: Snow can prevent desiccation by protecting plants from drying winter winds.

    • Encourages dormancy: Consistent cold temperatures under the snow help plants maintain dormancy, reducing the risk of premature growth during winter thaws.

  4. Pest and Disease Control

    • Kills off pests: Harsh freezes can reduce populations of overwintering pests, pathogens, and weed seeds in the garden.

Cons of Snow and Ice in the Garden

  1. Weight Damage

    • Broken branches: Heavy snow and ice accumulation can snap branches, especially on evergreens or young trees.

    • Flattening plants: Snow can damage delicate plants that aren't strong enough to support its weight.

  2. Ice Hazards

    • Ice suffocation: Ice layers can block airflow, potentially suffocating plants underneath.

    • Root rot risk: Prolonged ice in poorly drained soils can lead to waterlogging and root rot once the thaw begins.

  3. Salt and Chemical Damage

    • De-icing runoff: Salt and chemical de-icers used on paths and driveways can leach into the garden, harming soil structure and plant health.

  4. Soil Compaction

    • Frozen soil compaction: Walking on snowy or icy ground compacts the soil, reducing air and water permeability.

  5. Delayed Growth

    • Cold soils in spring: Prolonged snow cover can delay soil warming, slowing down the spring planting season.

Tips to Manage Snow and Ice in Your Garden

  • Shake off snow gently from branches to prevent breakage.

  • Avoid using salt-based de-icers near garden beds; use cracked corn or sand instead.

  • Mulch plants before snow arrives to provide an extra layer of insulation.

  • Redirect runoff from melting snow to avoid flooding or salt contamination.

  • Prune trees and shrubs in the fall to remove weak branches that might break under snow.

Conclusion

With thoughtful management, the benefits of snow and ice often outweigh the negatives. And with snow you get a great excuse to stay warm and dry at home!

For more gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor tips, subscribe to Garden Notes, my free weekly newsletter.

Charlotte

Cardboard Flower Bed

cardboard flower bed pre.jpg

Cardboard Flower Bed

Who would have ever guessed our love affair with home delivery would morph into a gardening technique. That’s what is happening, though with the proliferance of cardboard and the desire, at least on my part, to have yet another flower bed on my limestone hillside.

Cardboard has been an excellent gardening tool for a number of years. I have used cardboard in the bottom of newly-dug holes to keep seedlings watered. I have also mulched established plants first with cardboard, then covered them in seasoned wooden chips.

Now cardboard in my garden has graduated into getting new full-fledged flower beds ready for planting.

It doesn’t have to be large pieces, any size cardboard box will do.

Saving a small stash of cardboard to move it out to my garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Saving a small stash of cardboard to move it out to my garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

When gardening on a hillside, the critical part is having something to place on the cardboard so that it doesn’t blow away.

When I think I have enough cardboard to cover a garden area, I either collect bags of shredded leaves or already have shredded leaves in the area. That way I can cover the cardboard with the shredded leaves so they hold down the cardboard.

Leaves also make good choices to keep cardboard from blowing away. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Leaves also make good choices to keep cardboard from blowing away. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If I can time the cardboard addition to weather, even better. A good rain will help settle the cardboard into the hillside and help it smother what is underneath.

If something is strong enough to grow through cardboard, I tend to leave it.

It can take 6 weeks to 3 months to kill off what was originally growing in an area now covered in cardboard.

Once the area is cleared and is covered in shredded leaves and wood chips, it should be ready for planting in the next growing season.

Now I’m working on cardboard for the next flower garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Now I’m working on cardboard for the next flower garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I like the idea of repurposing cardboard in my garden. The cardboard also provides a nice layer that helps maintain moisture in the soil.

Coming up next, planting native tree seedlings from George O. White Nursery, coming in around April.

Charlotte