In article
,
gardengal wrote:

But you're thinking in the right direction :-) It is far more
desireable for plants to have below zero temperatures and a nice thick
snow cover (in most cases......snow damage from weight is also a
factor) than it is to have temperatures that hover between freezing
and 0F with NO snow cover.

We have not had a real snow because I purchased a power snow removal
tool 4 years ago. ) Still gut says 1 degree unprotected is hard on
my plants perhaps more than those protected by snow. The cold for us -5
F has my hellebores looking very sad.


Snow is good it seems.

Bill

http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=241_37

http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodica...cles/january03
-3.html

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Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA