Snow is one of winter’s most recognizable features in Canada. While some people welcome it for outdoor recreation, others find it challenging to manage. For plants, snow can serve as both a protective blanket and a source of potential stress.
In many landscapes, snow benefits perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and young trees by working as a natural insulator. When snow forms an even layer on the ground, it traps air and shields soil from extreme cold. This insulation slows soil freezing and helps protect plant roots during long stretches of freezing weather.
When winters lack consistent snow cover, soils may freeze more deeply than usual. This can injure plant roots, leading to poor spring growth, branch dieback, or plant loss. These symptoms often appear after winters with cold temperatures but little or no snow.
Snow also reduces repeated freezing and thawing at the soil surface. Without snow or mulch, the winter sun can warm bare ground enough to cause soil heaving, where plant crowns and roots are lifted upward. This exposes roots to air, increasing the chances of drying and injury.
However, snow can also create challenges for homeowners and gardeners. Deep snow offers cover for small animals such as voles, which may chew on the bark of young trees and shrubs. Rabbits may also feed higher on stems when snow allows them to reach parts of plants normally out of range.
Installing protective barriers such as wire fencing or hardware cloth around young trees can reduce animal damage. As snow levels rise, these barriers should be checked regularly to ensure animals cannot climb over them.
Heavy snow can weigh down branches, especially on evergreens and shrubs. If snow is soft and powdery, gently brushing it off is usually safe. But if snow has hardened or become icy, it is better to let it melt naturally. Shaking branches can create cracks that may not appear until spring. Marking the spots of small shrubs before winter storms can also prevent accidental damage from plows or snow piles.
Read the article: Canada Braces for Widespread Winter Cold (December 2025) to see what to expect this winter in Canada.