December brings the word snow to weather forecasts and opinions vary on the desire for snowfall. Certainly, winter activity enthusiasts want lots, while others who hate to shovel or drive in snow want little. From a landscape plant perspective, snow can be good or bad.

Let us start with the good. Overall snow cover is a good thing for plants, not just perennials, bulbs, and groundcovers, but also root systems of trees and shrubs. Snow provides insulation from extreme cold and can also reduce frost depth in the ground. Last winter’s lack of snow over much of southern Wisconsin created numerous problems for landscape plants with significantly cold temperatures causing soils to freeze deeper than normal, damaging root systems. Visible symptoms during this past growing season included poor or sparse foliage, dieback, and even death.

Snow also protects crowns and roots of many plants from alternating freezing and thawing cycles bare ground is subject to, which is why winter mulches are recommended to be applied to perennials and strawberries. Without snow or winter mulch, milder temperatures and sun could warm the soil surface, leading to damage from soil heaving, breaking roots, and drying out plants.

Unfortunately, there are some potential plant problems associated with significant snowfall and prolonged snow cover. Snow provides excellent protection from predators for small animals, especially voles (field mice). Voles gnaw on unprotected tender bark at the base of young tree trunks and stems of shrubs. They also make winding tunnels on the surface of lawns under the safety of snow cover. Damage of both types is visible in spring. Rabbits may also be more likely to feed on tender bark when snow cover exists.

Since winter is just starting, if you have not yet done so, it is still well worth getting out and protecting valuable plants. Temporary poultry wire fencing and cylinders of hardware cloth can be used to protect trees and shrubs. If snow starts to increase to significant depth as winter advances, monitor wire barriers to ensure rabbits cannot climb over them.

Heavy snow loads can put considerable strain on branches of trees and shrubs. Assuming it easily comes off, carefully brush away snow. If it does not easily come off or includes ice, it is better to leave it alone and let natural melting take care of it. Damage often occurs when shaking frozen branches that may not appear until later when a cracked limb suddenly wilts and dies. Watch where snow gets plowed and piled to avoid damaging shrubs. Consider marking exact locations of low growing shrubs with stakes before they get buried in snow.