Can Gardens Survive Without Snow?

It's mid-January and the dearth of snow continues. Personally, I couldn't be happier - but what does the lack of snow mean for our gardens?

Despite the fact that it's cold and wet, snow provides good insulation for plants and protects them from freezing temperatures. But what happens to plants when there is no snow?

If you've planted shrubs and perennials that are hardy for your planting zone (zones 5 and 6 in Fairfield and Westchester counties), then you have no worries. These plants can withstand the cold of our winters and our hot, humid summers.

Nick Mancini, a master gardener who teaches organic vegetable gardening in Connecticut, says, " Snow is always good to have because it blankets the soil from the cold and adds moisture, but this year we’ve had plenty of rain and the temperature has been warmish, so we should be okay."

He adds, "I water my seedlings with melted snow, and to me, that’s what I’ll miss the most. However, it’s not even the middle of January yet, and we can still get our allotment of snow."

 

 

Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.