Snow-covered tree branches fill the image, creating a dense pattern against a gray sky, evoking a cold winter day.

The new year sidled in with the promise of delicately laced trees and downy blankets of snow which would quiet and comfort the landscape.  It is both beautiful and treacherous.

A metal face sculpture shaped like a leaf is mounted on a tree trunk with patches of snow on both the sculpture and the tree bark.

Snow, for many, is merely a nuisance. Although the aesthetics are undeniable, the beauty, for most, does not outweigh the hassle. Snow is very much a four letter word for the majority, but nature, specifically flora, views the snow entirely differently. Snow, in fact, can be a lifesaver in Winter.

Close-up of a dried brown flower head covered with a layer of fresh white snow, with a blurred outdoor background showing more snow and plants.

Snow, as you may know, is an insulator, and helps warm and maintain soil temperatures. Because the heart and majority of any plant or tree lies below the surface, the warmer soil temps aid in the plants’ survival. The same insulating properties help protect perennials, bulbs, and groundcover from the potentially damaging effects of the freeze-thaw cycle. Without the presence of snow, coupled with milder temps and sunny days, the soil’s surface can temporarily warm, leading to soil heaving, which can injure roots and dehydrate plants.

Snow-covered evergreen trees and bushes stand in a yard, with a metal arbor and a house visible in the background. Snow blankets the ground and is still falling gently.

Additionally, snow provides much-needed moisture for the plants’ root systems. Snow also acts as a barrier to drying winds, like an anti-dessicant, thus mitigating water loss. Snow can also help reduce soil erosion from cold, drying winds. Think of it as nature’s blanket. Your garden does!

Close-up of dry grass covered in a thin layer of ice on a cold winter day, with a snowy background and trees blurred in the distance.

Snow also highlights the beauty of structure and form, from trees to perennials to ornamental grasses. It can be as beneficial as it is stunning.  Feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s with any of your winter needs.  We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

 

Cluster of small white flowers with yellow centers and narrow petals, densely packed and surrounded by green stems and buds.

Snowflake Creeping Phlox

Loose clusters of white, star-shaped flowers bloom April – May atop low growing mounds of finely textured foliage.  Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 3-6″ tall and 12-18″ wide.  Attracts pollinators and butterflies.  Deer resistant.

“Everything looked so clean and transformed, so fresh-start. All ramshackle aspects of the neighborhood’s houses and barns had disappeared under white roofs against white fields.”

 ~Barbara Kingsolver

Warm wishes, and Happy New Year!

Kim Sweeney