Weathering the winter

Going on the Defensive
For those gardeners and homeowners living in regions that regularly experience snow and ice storms during winter, there are a number of ways to prepare against damage to your plants and property. The first is to select plants that are known for weathering storms.

(Too Much) Snow Falling on Cedars
Sometimes, as the snow floats down through a cold calm sky, the sound of each snowflake as it lands on the evergreens comes faintly but clearly to your ears, like the sound of pins dropping one by one. In other storms, the flakes are big and soft and settle on the foliage as gently as goose down. Snow in all of its manifestations is beautiful to behold. However, too much snow falling on cedars and many other trees can be more beauty than some trees and shrubs were meant to handle.

The degree of resilience of a tree to ice and snow damage is nearly as reliant on the age, health, and placement of the tree as it is on the species and variety. For example, the many species and varieties of false cypress range from short, sturdy slow-growing trees, such as Hinoki false cypress, which are quite resistant, to the upright and open form of Lawson false cypress, which is prone to damage. In between these extremes are many species that tolerate snow and ice but can be left a little bent by the experience, too.

Be aware, however, that an accumulation of ice to even 1/2 inch (1 cm) can damage plants. In the worst ice storms, 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm) of ice will form on branches and trees, which is much more ice than any tree should be expected to bear.

Shielding Your Plants from Harm
If you've ever experienced an ice storm, you know that whatever freezing rain lands on, there the ice will form. If the rain never reaches the plants, the ice doesn't either. A shield is a device that is most often used to protect foundation plants from the ravages of ice dropping from the eaves.

Many designs are available, but the common feature is they are constructed of hard, durable material that will withstand the assault of large icicles as they drop from above.

Sandwich board. The most efficient design is a sandwich board composed of two pieces of plywood joined at the top with a pair of hinges. This roof-shaped shield is then set over a plant. Falling ice just glances off the sandwich board; freezing rain accumulates on the board rather than on the plant.

Plastic-covered hoops. Some of the same devices that are used to extend the growing season can also be used to protect plants from ice. If you used a series of metal hoops covered by Reemay cloth to warm the plants beneath it, you can protect against ice by replacing the cloth with white plastic (8 mil works well); the ice then collects on the plastic, not the plants. Plastic obviously isn't as strong as wood, but as the ice accumulates, it can be quickly removed: Just tap the plastic to crack the ice and send it sliding down to the ground.

Braces. Braces are any devices that strengthen the existing structure of a tree or shrub. The plants most sensitive to ice storms are upright evergreens with multiple stems. To reinforce these plants, use a roll of about 4-inch-wide (10 cm) fabric tape. Begin at the bottom of the plant and tie the tape around the plant as close to the ground as possible. Wrap the plant in an upward spiral, drawing in the branches toward the center of the plant. Tie off the tape near the top of the plant.

Excerpted from The Weather-Resilient Garden by Charles W. G. Smith. Copyright 2004 by Charles W. G. Smith. Excerpted, with permission by Storey Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.