ASHLAND—While Delaware residents grow weary of shoveling snow and navigating icy conditions, local gardens are actually benefiting from winter’s frozen grip. The white blanket covering lawns and flower beds serves as natural protection for plants while delivering valuable nutrients to the soil below.
Snow collects beneficial elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus as it falls through the atmosphere, according to Scot Ferguson, who works as a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Hanover County.
Delaware homeowners can maximize these benefits by being strategic about where they pile snow during cleanup efforts. Rather than viewing snow removal as just another winter chore, Ferguson suggests thinking of it as preparation for spring growth.
“You’d want to relocate snow along the drip line of the shrub or tree, kind of like you would with mulch,” Ferguson explained. Placing snow around garden beds and landscaped areas provides “a little bump of nitrogen” to plants.
The melting process delivers these fertilizing compounds gradually into the ground. When warmer weather arrives, the slow melt provides consistent moisture without overwhelming plant roots.
“Plants are probably not getting super waterlogged, and you’re not dealing with runoff,” Ferguson noted. “They will be quite hydrated and trying to transpire!”
Rural property owners who manage large areas of grassland typically invest between $4 and $10 per acre for professional nutrient management services. These landowners appreciate the free fertilization that winter storms provide.
“And for bigger landowners with cover crop programs, that’s where they find the bang for their buck,” Ferguson said.
While Delaware’s native plants handle local weather patterns well, imported ornamental species like boxwood and delicate perennials can suffer damage when cold snaps arrive suddenly.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension research shows that even thin snow coverage shields soil from dramatic temperature swings. This protective barrier keeps soil temperatures more stable, preventing damage to plant root systems.
“And if it’s warm enough under there, the snow forms an insulating blanket, and grass will certainly grow,” Ferguson observed. “Snow still allows sunlight to penetrate its surface. If the plant can move water, if the ground isn’t frozen, then plants and grass can probably photosynthesize!”
Despite predictions of six additional weeks of winter conditions, Delaware temperatures will continue to vary throughout the season.
“Your flowering plants may come into bloom when we have warm weather,” warned Mark Viette, former host of “In the Garden,” a video series from Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. These mild periods may be followed by “a real cold spell.”
Viette recommends covering blooming plants with sheets or soft materials, adding warmth with outdoor-rated incandescent lighting when needed.
