In our parts, snow in winter is not a rare event. Although in December 2013 we experienced a snow fall of unusual magnitude which caused considerable damage to gardens. Trees collapsed, branches snapped and plants froze and were badly damaged.

Here are some tips for protecting your garden against irreversible damage during winter.

A. Selection of suitable plants: When you plan the vegetation for your garden, always bear in mind that winter in a mountainous region can be accompanied by frost and snow events. Therefore, it is advisable to select plants that are resistant to hot and dry summers as well as tough winters.

Do not be tempted to purchase in midsummer delicate nursery plants that look exquisite but are not adapted to mountainous areas. There are many lovely plants which are also durable and adaptable and which can survive the winter in these areas.

The importance of selecting suitable plants is reinforced when it comes to garden trees. It takes a long time for a tree to grow until it is large enough for you to rest in its shade. The damage caused by the collapse of a tree takes years to overcome, as years will go by until a new tree you plant will reach the same dimensions as the first. So it is crucial to insist on a suitable type of tree for your garden.

As a rule, fast-growing trees will be less resistant to a heavy load as result of snow.

In any case it is recommended to consult a gardener or professional landscape planner about the correct choice of tree.

B. What to do when it snows:
Most of the snow-related damage occurs for two main reasons:
1. The load and weight of snow added to the plant causes the plant –or parts of it – to break, bend, or even collapse.

If garden plants are important to you, you need to shake the snow off them every now and again to prevent breakage and bending.

2. The Freezing of plants: We are accustomed to snow conditions lasting one or two days before melting. What happens if these conditions are of longer duration, as in winter 2013?

In such a case, low plants and lawns buried under the snow for a week or more may freeze and incur irreparable damage.

You can install sprinklers and/or a portable sprinkler, and adjust the computerized irrigation to turn on every so often. The water will melt much of the snow and prevent its accumulation on the plants.

3. For particularly delicate plants: Do not hesitate to bring them into the warm protection of your home in order to save them.