NEWS HOME

Gardens looking haggard after snowfall? First, don’t panic!
By Mary D. Edwards

Our record snowfall of Jan. 10-11 while beautiful, created a weighty problem for garden plants and trees. Most of us probably had at least a few bent or broken trees and shrubs. But while it’s natural to want to take stock and cut back damaged plants, Zoe Blatter of Cornell Farm cautions restraint. It’s much too early to tell what will survive and what won’t.

"Some plants that look terrible now will begin to flush back out and fully recover in the spring, while others that still look ok now could have damage that won’t be apparent for weeks or months," he said.

So, what should we do now?

Cut back any branches that broke to prevent further damage and reduce the risk of disease or insect infestation. If unbroken branches look dead, wait until they start to push new growth in late spring before you prune; they could just be faking it!

Bent, but not broken shrubs may treat their owners to a happy surprise by popping back up like Margie Lachman’s camellias and bamboo did. Lachman, gardening columnist for the Cedar Mill News, suggested using wide cloth strips or plant ties to gradually coax evergreens such as arborvitae, yews, and junipers, back to their upright stance. “Pull them up only two or three inches at a time,” she said. “It should be done gradually.”

Cornell Farm says these melted-looking perennials will likely bounce back in the spring, because their roots are healthy

Evergreen trees and shrubs that bore the weight of the snow and the week's sub-freezing temps had a particularly tough time. But even if the leaves look burned, battered, or hopeless, leave them in place for now. They’ll be an eyesore, but will continue to function for the plant until it replaces them in the spring.

If we get more snow (it’s still winter, after all)? Get out there and gently brush or shake snow from shrubs, but ice should be left to melt when the weather warms said Lachman. “I have to admit that a few years ago, I saw my camellias covered with ice and panicked. Not wanting to lose my flowers I went down the row and shook each limb until the ice fell to the ground. Luckily nothing happened to my flowers or leaves despite advice to the contrary.”

Below ground, both garden experts recommend leaving well-enough alone. Perennials that look mushy likely have healthy roots. Allow them to rest undisturbed till spring when it will become apparent what’s still alive—or not.

And take heart; though the snowfall was much more than normal and seemed to last forever, it really came at the best possible time for our landscapes. “This deep into winter, we had already experienced enough cold to send most plants into dormancy, which makes them much less vulnerable to weather extremes," said Blatter.

Previous article

NEWS HOME