From the Ground Up — Burdened by snow: to brush off or not?

LINN COUNTY - The recent winter storm that left Eastern Iowa digging out also took its toll on our landscapes. When we get heavy, wet snow, we can try to minimize the damage done to trees but might be more effective focusing on the shrubs in the garden. So when you see shrubs bent under by the weight of snow or ice, should you try to remove it?

It's not necessary to remove light amounts of snow. Trees and shrubs can easily handle a few inches, and often the snow will be shaken off the next time there's a good wind. But heavy snowfall or ice can break branches. That's especially true for evergreens with their big, 'fluffy” branches that collect a lot of snow. Rhododendrons, too, suffer from heavy snow accumulation.

When we get a winter storm with heavy snow, check on shrubs in your garden. If you see your evergreen bowing from the weight, chances are good your other shrubs or trees might be suffering as well. Gently brush off the snow by hand, or use a broom to remove it. You can use a watering wand, too, to reach the hard-to-reach spots to tap off the snow, but don't use a rake which can damage the branches.

Try not to vigorously shake the branches, which are brittle during the cold winter months, they can break easily if you shake them too severely. If ice has accumulated, wait until it softens or melts completely before trying to get it off.

Don't disturb parts of the shrub that might be frozen to the ground or heavily buried by snow. Brush away the snow if you can or wait for the frozen part to thaw before gently helping the shrub to right itself. The plant will eventually straighten out its limbs and shake off the remainder of accumulation without your help.

To prevent buildups in the future (and possible injury to the shrub), you can wrap up smaller shrubs and trees with soft twine, pulling in those outstretched branches that catch snow and ice. That's not possible for all shrubs, of course, so for those that can't be prevented, just check them after a storm.

It's best to remove broken branches at the correct time of year for that shrub, but if the damage is severe or if it's a safety hazard (drooping over a walkway or driveway, for example), you will want to remove the branches.

We can't prevent the weather, but we can try to rectify the problems it throws at us!

For answers to your garden questions, call the Linn County Extension Hortline at (319) 447-0647.

' Jean Wilson is a Linn County Master Gardener.