How To Deal With The Snow In Your Garden

As you may have noticed, much of the UK has been covered in Snow over the weekend. Whilst the majority of the roads are clear (though it was perilous getting to the Alfresia offices this morning!), wide open spaces, like gardens and parks, are still likely covered. The snow probably won't have melted by tonight so: how to protect your garden now that the snow has fallen?

The first thing you should note, however, is that snow can be quite beneficial in cold weather. This is because it acts as an insulator and protects any covered plants from the cold and frost to which they would otherwise be exposed. That being said, a heavy fall of snow can cause branches and leaves to break off. To avoid these problems, follow these easy instructions:

• If your tree branches, shrubs and hedges are covered, shake the excess snow from them to prevent the weight disfiguring them.
• To this end, use some string to support the branches of conifers. This will stop them being pulled out of shape. If they do move out of place now, they won't spring back when the snow has melted.
• Sweep any weighty deposits of snow from the roofs of greenhouses or cold frames. This has a dual purpose: it prevents the structures from bending under the weight of the snow and it lets light in so your plants are unneccesarily affected.
• At all costs, avoid crossing the snow-covered grass. If you walk on it, you will damage the turf beneath and leave unsightly marks on the lawn. You will also be guilty of encouraging the growth of fungal diseases.

If you can perform these tasks, then you will have done all you can to prevent damage in your garden. After this, you might try building a snow man. It won't have any affect on the health of your garden but it is fun. To build said snowman, pack lumps of snow together on the ground until you have a large ball. Repeat this process but creating a slightly smaller ball. If you want to make a truly impressive snowman, repeat again to make a ball slightly smaller again. Stack the giant snow balls on top of one another, decorating the top ball with anything you can think of to make a face - a carrot should definitely feature! Use sticks for arms, and maybe add buttons and then you are sorted. Voila: a snowman.

 Alfresia is an online stockist of garden furniture.