It might look magical, but snow can be both a friend and a foe to your garden. As temperatures drop, gardening experts on TikTok – including Gardening with Ish and The Frenchie Gardener (Patrick Vernuccio) – have shared what to do when snow arrives, and how to stop it from harming your plants.
Here are three simple things they say every gardener should do when it snows.
Don’t panic – snow can actually protect your plants
Snow may look harsh, but it’s often a gardener’s hidden ally. As Gardening with Ish explains, snow is made up of about 90 to 95 percent air, which means it acts like an insulating blanket rather than an icy danger.
“It forms a really nice thick layer right above your beds and perennials and actually works as a nice insulating property, which stops it from getting any damage from frost,” he says.
This insulating effect keeps soil temperatures stable and prevents the ground from freezing too deeply – especially helpful for perennials and bulbs that are resting through the winter.
However, Ish warns that not every plant benefits from a snowy covering. “If you’ve got new seedlings growing… something like this might be a bit of a shock for them.” The fix is simple: move young plants to a greenhouse, porch, or any covered area until the frost passes.
Keep an eye on weight and covers
For gardeners who use fleece or protective covers, The Frenchie Gardener – who teaches sustainable balcony gardening to over 1.5 million followers – has a clear message: don’t let snow pile up. “Winter covers have great protection,” he says, “but remove the top snow so that it doesn’t turn into a freezer.”
Snow sitting on covers for too long can press down on plants, trap cold air, and even break delicate branches. The same goes for raised beds or potted plants, where snow tends to linger longer than on open ground. “Be sure to remove the snow so that it doesn’t put too much weight on your plants,” Patrick adds.
But if your plants are uncovered, don’t be too quick to sweep away the snow. In that case, he says: “Weirdly enough, the snow is making a useful cover, preventing your plants from freezing.” It’s all about balance – removing what’s heavy or compressing, but keeping a natural blanket where it helps.
Use snow as free, clean water
Once the worst of the cold has passed, snow can be put to work for you. Both experts highlight how melting snow slowly releases moisture into the soil, which is vital after long spells of dry winter air.
“A nice bed of snow on your grass will slowly melt and that means it will slowly moisturise the soil underneath,” says Ish.
Patrick takes it a step further with one clever tip: collect it. “Store it in buckets or in your rainwater tank,” he suggests. “This is clean water that you will be able to reuse later on.”
It’s an easy, eco-friendly way to build up reserves for the months ahead – and unlike tap water, melted snow is naturally soft and chemical-free, making it great for watering houseplants too.
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