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Winter brings unique problems to the garden. Here are some common winter garden hazards and how to navigate them.
Snow and Ice Are Important Hazards
The most obvious hazards are snow and ice. Heavy, wet snow can break branches, especially in young evergreen trees like green velvet boxwood and giant arborvitae. Remove heavy snow from tree limbs by sweeping upward with a broom. Shaking a branch to remove snow risks breaking it and is not recommended. Ice is more challenging on a tree because it is impossible to remove it from a branch. Weak branches may collapse under the weight of the ice on them. Avoid planting trees that grow very fast because they are usually weak and will break easily.
Snow and ice on the ground can be hazardous when moving around in the garden. However, snow is a good insulator and can keep the roots of trees, shrubs, and perennials from getting too cold. Extreme temperatures can freeze plants and make it hazardous to go outside.
Deicing Salts
Deicing salts can injure plants in two ways. Cars splash salt spray on trees and shrubs. The salty spray is absorbed, and the sodium and chloride ions replace needed nutrients. Too much displacement causes the plant to develop a critical shortage of required nutrients and die. Putting up a barrier between the tree and the road can prevent salty spray from splashing on the tree. Using non-salt deicers on your driveway and sidewalks can also reduce injuries.
The second hazard deicing salts post is when the water from melting snow and ice sweeps the deicing salts across the soil. The soil absorbs the salt, and trees and shrubs far from hard surfaces can suffer injury. Do not plant things in the drainage path of meltwater. Raise the beds and use swaths and berms to channel the meltwater along hardscapes where it will not cause injuries.
Plants Still Need Water
Many people do not realize that plants still need water even when dormant. Trees and shrubs need watering if there is no rain or snow to provide it. These plants use less water in the winter but need some. Try to water when the temperature is over 40 degrees. Water in the morning so the soil has all day to absorb the water before it freezes overnight.
Too Much Water
Winter storms may leave a landscape waterlogged and cold for long periods. This can rot wet roots and deprive them of oxygen. Plant in well-drained soil. Spreading a layer of dead leaves over the ground in late fall can help absorb excess water and add organic matter to the soil.
Temporary floods in a vegetable garden may cause a food safety issue. If the flood water contained sewage or animal feces, the vegetables may be unsafe to eat even if washed off. Consult your local Extension agent to determine what can be salvaged and discarded.
Hungry Animals
Scarce food can cause animals to eat plants they usually disdain. Even deer-resistant plants like witch hazel and lilac shrubs can end up on the menu. Making a cage of hardwood cloth around valuable trees, especially young trees, can protect them from rabbits, small voles, and mice. Make the cage large enough to have a six-inch gap between the wire and the bark. The fence needs to be at least 24 inches high to keep rabbits from jumping over it.
Pruning Hazards
Prune trees and shrubs during the winter when plants are dormant. Large trees can be complex to prune because it is difficult to reach the top branches. Hire a certified arborist to prune these trees. They have safety equipment and can prune the tree without injuring it or themselves.
Heavy Winds
Winter storms often have heavy winds. Trees with shallow roots may be pushed over during a storm when the soil is saturated. Ensure the trees on your property will not hit your house or garage if they fall to prevent severe damage or injury. Young trees may be temporarily staked, but do not stake them permanently, or the tree will become weak. It needs to stand against less fatal winds to grow strong.
Sun Scald
With no leaves to protect them, young tree trunks are vulnerable to sun scald in the winter. The first few years after planting, wrap the trunk from the ground up to just under the first branch with paper tree wrapping tape. Remove the wrapping tape after all danger of frost has passed. Leaving it on the tree will make it hard for the trunk to expand as it grows and can shelter insects.
Poisonous Berries
Bringing nature inside to use as decorations for the holidays is common in many cultures. Boughs of holly have red berries on them. Mistletoe has white ones. Other berries and seeds are out in the landscape. Many of these seeds and berries poison cats, dogs, and people. Ensure the berries and seeds are out of reach of pets and children. They may not understand they cannot eat the pretty berries.
Frozen Water Features Is A Big Hazard
If you get a sudden freeze, your irrigation system and water features can freeze. Be sure to drain both in plenty of time to avoid expensive repairs. In areas where that isn't necessary, put a floating heater or fountain in your birdbath to keep the water available for birds and other wildlife.
A Practical Guide to Avoiding Winter Garden Hazards
Even gardens that receive proper care and maintenance face significant challenges during winter. Even though garden activities slow down during the cold months, various potential dangers can impact plants, soil health, and garden structures. Taking preventive action when faced with icy conditions, heavy snowfall, or temperature fluctuations helps prevent lasting damage and ensures your garden will flourish in spring. This detailed guide explains how to safeguard your garden against typical winter threats to maintain outdoor space throughout the cold season.
1. Protecting Plants from Frost and Freeze Damage
Frost or freeze damage stands out as one of the primary threats plants face during winter months. Cold temperatures cause plant cells to crystallize and rupture, resulting in wilted foliage or dieback. To mitigate this:
Use Mulch: A substantial application of organic mulch like straw or shredded leaves around plant bases functions to protect their root systems through insulation. A layer of mulch preserves soil heat and slows down the reduction of ground temperatures at night.
Cover Sensitive Plants: Before an expected freeze, protect tender perennials and new shrubs by placing frost cloths, old sheets, or burlap over them. The covering should reach the ground level to hold the soil's radiating heat. The protective covers should be removed during warm daytime hours when frost isn't expected at night.
Water Before a Freeze: Soil that contains adequate moisture retains heat more effectively than soil lacking moisture. If the soil is not saturated, water your plants deeply before a hard freeze to help them withstand freezing temperatures.
2. Preventing Snow And Ice Damage
Snow and ice appear to be cosmetic issues, but when they gather in specific patterns, they can break branches, damage garden infrastructure, and alter soil structure.
Brush Off Heavy Snow: The weight from prolonged wet snow conditions can break or bend tree branches. Remove snow by brushing it away from branch tips toward the trunk using a broom or your gloved hand for gentle cleaning. Do not forcefully shake plants because it can cause more damage than benefits.
Prune Vulnerable Branches: Snow and ice tend to break weak or damaged branches because they cannot support the additional weight. Trimming trees and shrubs during their dormant phase in late autumn or early winter lowers the likelihood of further injury. Proper healing occurs when you make clean cuts above the branch collar.
Protect Sensitive Infrastructure: Cold weather weakens garden structures, including trellises, raised beds, and greenhouse frames. Perform routine examinations of your supports to find cracks and loose nails. Strengthen or fix necessary structures before heavy snow begins to fall.
3. Dealing with Freeze-Thaw Cycles
When winter temperatures vary widely, they cause freeze-thaw cycles, which cause water inside the soil and plant tissues to expand and contract repeatedly. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles push plant roots from the soil and cause containers to crack.
Check for Heaving: Check your bulbs and perennials following any midwinter warm period. When roots become visible above soil level, gently push them back down and top them with additional soil or mulch.>
Use Weather-Resistant Containers: Water freezing inside clay pots and inexpensive plastic containers usually causes them to crack. Pots should be built for low temperatures or insulated with materials like bubble wrap or burlap for outdoor container plants that need protection from cold weather.
Elevate Containers: Positioning pots on feet or bricks creates better drainage, enabling excess water to flow away before freezing weather arrives.
4. Guarding Against Rodents and Garden Pests
Winter months do not halt pest activity entirely. Various rodents, including voles and mice, remain active beneath snow layers, feeding on tree bark and roots. Wildlife, such as rabbits and deer, may take food from your garden because natural food sources become scarce during winter.
Wrap Tree Trunks: A wire mesh or plastic trunk guarding around young trees is a deterrent for gnawing animals. Ensure the protective guard reaches above the expected height of snowdrifts to prevent rodents from gaining access.
Remove Habitat Around Sensitive Plants: Remove brush piles, tall grass, or debris around your valuable shrubs and trees. By removing such materials, rodents must relocate to find new nesting sites.
Natural Repellents: Many gardeners use homemade and commercial products, including garlic sprays and hot peppers, to stop wildlife from eating their plants. Reapplication should occur after heavy precipitation events like rain or snow.
5. Keeping Soil Healthy
Winter's harsh conditions can damage unprotected soil quality. Freezing weather conditions, soil erosion caused by melting snow, and nutrient loss through leaching can damage the garden's foundation.
Apply Off-Season Cover Crops: For any uncovered vegetable beds you own, plant cold-hardy cover crops like winter rye or clover during the late fall season. Cover crop roots maintain soil stability while preventing erosion and increasing organic content during spring tilling.
Avoid Working Wet Soil: During a brief thaw, you might feel like digging or tilling the garden. However, working waterlogged or partially frozen soil can compact the soil structure. The ground must fully thaw and dry before starting work on it in spring.
Add Organic Matter: Applying compost or well-aged manure to garden beds during the end of fall or early winter lets nutrients permeate the soil over time. During spring, you should lightly rake the organic matter into the soil or gently turn it underneath to improve the ground without deeply disturbing it.
6. Manage Winter Watering for Evergreens
During winter months, evergreen plants lose moisture through their leaves. Extreme dryness in the soil, combined with severe temperature changes, leads to winter burn, which damages evergreens through brown or scorched leaves and needles.
Water During Thaws: When the weather is warm enough to thaw the soil in winter, evergreens benefit from deep watering. Provide water directly to the root zone instead of applying overhead sprinkling.
Mulch to Conserve Moisture: Placing a layer of mulch around plant bases helps maintain soil moisture and control ground temperatures. Maintain a few-inch gap between the trunk and mulch to prevent rotting and pest infestations.
7. Create Safe Pathways
Beyond plant hazards, you must be aware of slippery surfaces, which can also endanger your safety. When ice and snow build up in the garden, paths, steps, and driveways become challenging.
Use Non-Toxic Deicers: Nearby plants could become damaged while metal edging corrodes and groundwater contamination occurs due to chemical ice melts. Select pet-safe and salt-free deicers whenever you can, but use them sparingly.
Sand or Kitty Litter for Traction: Applying sand and pet-safe, non-clumping cat litter to icy paths creates a safe walking surface while preserving plant health. Extensively using kitty litter will result in residue that requires cleaning after the ice has melted.
Conclusion
The winter season brings numerous challenges to your garden, but taking preventative measures can address many typical problems before they develop. Protecting plants from frost damage and controlling snow weight on branches while managing pests and maintaining soil health helps sustain the vitality of outdoor space. Tackling every possible obstacle directly, such as freeze-thaw cycles, icy paths, and hungry animals, prepares your garden for a robust revival in spring. If you plan and maintain regular care during winter, your garden will withstand winter challenges and thrive in the next growing season.
