Parts of North America are already getting some snow. While temperatures remain warm or hot in the southerly parts of the United States, other regions shaped by elevation or latitude are starting to see the white stuff fall from the sky—and onto their gardens. Here at the Gardzen Test Gardens, we started wondering about the impact snow has on our gardens, so we did a little research and talked to some experts. The big question for plant lovers is always the same: Is snow good for your garden? The answer is generally “yes”, but the details are fascinating. Let’s dig in!
Snow is Precipitation
Snow is a really complicated version of frozen water, meaning that it is precipitation the way that rain is precipitation. In some parts of the world, it’s the primary form of precipitation, accounting for 60% or more of “rainfall” annually. All gardeners know how important rain is, but snow can fill part of that role by refreshing the moisture in our soil and adding water to our aquifers. In some parts of the world, snow melt in the spring rejuvenates streams and rivers, providing much-needed natural irrigation at a critical growing time of the year.
Snow is Insulation
While snow is cold, snow is also insulation—it captures small pockets of air and holds them such that they keep heat in and cold out. This means that a thick blanket of snow can help the ground hold some warmth, keeping the roots and bulbs in the soil from freezing and helping them survive until spring. This also protects soil health by helping to preserve the microorganisms that keep soil thriving. In especially cold regions, a thick blanket of snow limits soil freezing, which may help the soil thaw and warm up in the spring and let farmers plant earlier in the year.
Snow is . . . Fertilizer?
No, really—snow is fertilizer that contributes to the nutritional content of your soil! The process by which snow forms in the atmosphere and falls to the ground captures significant amounts of nitrogen, which as you may remember is the N in the NPK measure of fertilizer value. All plants need nitrogen—it contributes to growth and leaf formation among other things. It’s so important that some farmers in New England still refer to snow as “poor man’s fertilizer” and regard a thick blanket of snow as a sign of a good crop to come later in the year.
Snow Should Be Managed Carefully
Snow is an important part of the yearly weather cycle in some regions of the world, and its impact in our gardens should be managed carefully. Shaking snow off of tree limbs and shrubs can help prevent the weight of the snow from breaking or damaging limbs and branches. Obviously we should all protect vulnerable plants from cold weather either by providing them shelter or bringing them inside for the winter. When shoveling snow off of driveways, walkways, or patios, consider piling it on dormant garden beds so that they get the most out of its insulation, irrigation, and fertilizer properties. Snow is a wonderful thing, and like so much of nature is just part of the world in which our gardens exist. By understanding what snow does to our gardens and how we can manage it, we can get the most out of gardening in cold weather months.
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