Marianne's Response
Evergreens in snow
I live in Zone 5 in upstate NY. I have two small evergreen shrubs near my house, about 1-2 feet tall. One is a dwarf pine and one is a recently planted inkberry holly.
My question is: Is it better to let them become completely buried in snow or to dig them out?
Does the snow offer some winter protection, or is it better for the plants to get some sunlight? Could the weight of the snow snap branches when they are so close to the ground already?
Posted by Greta Perl on February 11, 2015
Marianne's Response
The snow offers protection for plants so it is better to let them stay snug under snow cover. However once the weather warms and the snow melts it become heavy and can snap branches so knock off the snow when you see branches bending. Good luck and stay warm! Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
