Snow! Beneficial? I know, you are thinking this guy must be crazy!
As we continue to endure winter storm after winter storm, below zero temperatures, seemingly endless weekends shoveling the drive, and agonizing commutes to and from work, we are hard pressed to even consider that all this snow could have any benefit whatsoever. It’s hard finding a silver lining with a winter that came early and has been relentless.
Mother Nature, in spite of our constant dislike of her, always seems to provide what we often can’t see. As we have piled up a record number of snow totals in the last two months and the snow piles have become mini mountains, all that white stuff has been a true blessing for all of the plants in our landscape.
The deep snow blanket has provided wonderful insulation for all of our valuable landscape ornamental plants as the temperatures have plummeted to lows we haven’t experienced with an Indiana winter in quite some time. The up and down nature of these temperatures, causes the ground to heave up and down, along with the plants within the soil. This adds stress to the root systems and generally occurs with a lack of snow to help protect them.
The cold temperatures will also help with some of our problematic insects as well, knocking out populations that have thrived in our more temperate winter seasons of the past. I have even heard that these cold days could help with our severe ash borer problems. What a bonus that could turn out to be!
There is also concern with heavy snow weighting down tree limbs and large shrubs, especially evergreens. This is an issue with most winters at some point and our first thought is to go out and attempt to free these limbs from entombment. Doing this will actually damage the plants far worse. The right thing to do is be patient and allow warmer temperatures to do the work for you. Lifting these limbs when frozen will actually break them and disfigure an otherwise beautiful shape.
Hopefully understanding some of the benefits of this extreme winter as they pertain to our landscape, will in some way make you feel a bit better about it.
Hang in there! The recent warm temperatures and rain is an early indication that spring is upon us. It is nice to at least see the lawn and know that we will be in the garden sooner, rather than later.
Endeavor to Persevere!
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