You may have heard that snow is a good insulator for your landscape plants. Well indeed it is! A blanket of snow is composed of approximately ninety percent trapped air and ten percent water. Snow serves the purpose of providing a protective barrier (insulation) separating plants from the lower temperatures around them. Stored heat in the ground being radiated is trapped under the layer of snow; hence, maintaining plants at a slightly higher temperature than the surrounding environment. This creates the same effect as the insulation barrier in the walls of your home. Mulch is also used as an insulating barrier for plants and the snow helps to further maintain the temperature of the soil.
Even when temperatures plummet the temperature under the snow will stay fairly constant around 32 degrees helping to protect underground roots from winter damage. Besides forming a protective barrier, melting snow also provides a source of water for plants during the cold winter months. With the frigid temperatures we have been experiencing it is good news that snow cover can be beneficial for your landscape and is nature’s natural insulator!
As Always…Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@Landscape Design By Lee, 2014, All Rights Reserved
A GUIDE TO LANDSCAPE DESIGN & MAINTENANCE 
That it is indeed! I love when we have a winter season that maintains a snow cover. The plants do so much better being protected from the brutal winter winds too.
I am hoping for a spring abundant with blooms and less insects as well. The snow does have its advantages.
I love snow and am so glad we’ve had snow cover this year with all our below zero weather. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Glad to have found you Karen. I agree…if we are going to have these freezing temperatures we might as well have something pretty to look at! I am really looking forward to spring though!!!
Me too! With the exception that when the snow melts, I get to see all the damage the voles have done…sigh.