For those loathing shoveling and driving on icy roads, the idea of a winter with little snow might sound like a blessing. But for the future-thinking gardeners, a snowless winter might be damaging to the spring ahead.
If the snow levels don't increase soon, the upcoming late-January weather could inhibit perennials and stilt fruit bearing plants. "There are things you can do," says Tom Kasper. One of the big ways to supply the insulation usually provided by snow is to cover plants with straw. "It certainly is a good, inexpensive insurance policy... you can insulate quite a few plants just by sprinkling a layer of straw." Even one layer of straw will make a difference in creating a barrier between the air temperature and the ground temperature.
Beyond that, hope for snow. Depending on the density of the snow, anywhere between 6-12 inches should be enough to insulate and thereby better the odds of a healthy spring garden.
You can hear Tips for Hardy Gardeners every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
