What to do after it snows in your garden — top tips to help plants survive

What to do afterwards information technology snows in your garden — pinnacle tips to help plants survive

Garden covered in snow (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Our gardens often await similar a winter wonderland when it glistens in snowfall. Only the frost tin seriously harm our beautiful plantlife and trees, causing the water in plant cells to freeze. In one case they get frost-damaged, they can grow limp, distorted or fifty-fifty blacken. Fifty-fifty the most hardy, evergreen plants can get damaged from the frozen soil, while frost tin can also impale blossoms and ruin growing fruit.

Although information technology may seem like the end of the earth for lush garden, there are things we tin do after it snows to help our constitute life survive. Follow these pinnacle tips to care for your garden afterward snowfall.

ane. Shake off the snow

Brushing off excess snow on trees — Brushing off backlog snow on trees (Epitome credit: Shutterstock)

Castor off excess snow left on trees, evergreens, hedges and shrubs with your mitt or a broom. Heavy snow tin weigh down on branches and cause them to intermission, and so shake off snow to help lighten the weight, and avoid damage.

In addition, remove damaged growth including dried leaves, and damaged parts of your plants to encourage new growth.

two. Keep off the lawn

Avoid walking on frozen grass or any plants, as the blades of grass will pause off when information technology'due south too frosty. In improver, walking on snow-covered turf tin encourage the growth of fungal diseases that thrive in absurd clammy conditions.

iii. Provide drainage for succulents

Mixing plant drainage (Image credit: Shutterstock)

For delicious plants or those that do well in colder weather, you lot all the same need to ensure they have proficient drainage to foreclose moisture build-up. It'southward recommended that you add ¼ of crushed rock to the soil to help soak upwards some of the moisture that may kill succulents.

In add-on, firm plants back into the ground, especially if the frost has disturbed the roots. And add a smaller layer of compost to improve their drainage.

4. Clip off stubs from broken branches

Snow on tree branch (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If y'all have any broken branches on a tree or shrub caused by heavy snowfall, prune off the stub at an angle, about an inch from the body. This volition help with its healing and new growth. We can recommend these Mueller Soft Grip Garden Pruning Shears ($24, Amazon). In addition, support the branches of conifers with lengths of string. This will help to end them being pulled out of shape from the weight of snowfall.

5. Keep some plants covered in snow (yes that's right!)

Did y'all know that snowfall tin exist a good thing for our garden? Snow acts as a blanket to keep plant life warm, and protects them from the freeze/thaw cycles that heave them out of the footing. Then, it's advisable to go along snow on plants unless the snow is heavily weighing down on plants or branches.

vi. Protect your planters

Covered planters in garden (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you're growing plants or even vegetables in planters or containers, these need to be protected from frost. Cover these in a special garden fleece or chimera wrap to proceed the roots at a stable temperature. These Plant Covers Freeze Protection ($17, Amazon) are ideal for protecting plants in the snow.

More home and garden tips for winter:

Feeding birds in winter: height tips and what to avoid
How to make hot chocolate and never beverage pre-mixed again
How to insulate your windows for winter
How to winterize hydrangeas
How to make an indoor winter garden
How to build a snowman
Best snowblower sales and deals

Cynthia Lawrence specialises in Homes ecommerce, covering all things homes and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, 'must-have' home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy 'how to' features.

Her piece of work has been published in various titles including, T3, Acme Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amidst many.

With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for fashion inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she's not testing absurd products, she'll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce upwardly her family home or looking for a great bargain!