Jennifer McDaniel

MANHATTAN – When it comes to home landscapes, Cheryl Boyer says snow is a good thing.“In addition to bringing moisture, snow that sticks around serves as insulation against colder temperatures and desiccating wind,” said Boyer, a specialist in nursery crop production and marketing at Kansas State University.For small shrubs and perennials, Boyer suggests leaving snow where it lands to protect them from further injury, and to provide moisture as it melts.However, she adds, “evergreen trees and shrubs – particularly Arborvitae and plants with multiple leading stems – may need to have heavy snow loads knocked off to prevent breakage.”When clearing snow from paved surfaces, Boyer urges homeowners to avoid piling it onto plants or near plants that may be sensitive to salty runoff or splashing from passing vehicles.“Large piles of snow take a long time to melt, and evergreen plants need to photosynthesize in the winter, so avoid burying them under a mountain of snow,” she said.She also notes that chemical treatments to paved surfaces can be detrimental to ornamentals and pets.