Should you sweep snow off your plants this winter or leave it be here is the quiet trick gardeners use to stop costly damage

The fix depends on the flurry, and one detail at home.

As Britain slips into another cold spell, many gardens from the Highlands to the Pennines face a familiar question. Leave the **snow** where it falls, or step in with a broom and gloves. Frost, ice and long cold snaps can test even rugged borders, especially when weather sticks around for weeks.

The right response rests on what you grow and what lands on it. A dusting behaves very differently to a wet, heavy fall. Evergreens carry the biggest burden. And yes, there is a simple move that prevents damage without fuss.

When light snow helps more than you think in a winter garden

You do not need to shield every **plant** from winter weather. Most hardy choices in British beds will shrug off a light cover. When snowfall stays around one or two inches and remains powdery, it acts like a natural blanket. That layer insulates dormant roots and crowns while the soil lies cold.

Remove it and you expose perennials to biting air and drying winds. Leave it and the ground stays buffered. So if the fall is light and fluffy, step back, keep off the borders, and enjoy the view from the kitchen window.

Why evergreens need a quick brush during heavy snow

Wet, **heavy snow** is a different story. **Evergreen shrubs** and trees carry foliage all year, which means their canopies collect weight fast. That load bends limbs and can snap branches, especially on younger plants that have not established.

When the garden wakes to a thick cover, check your evergreens and clear them gently. Use a soft **broom** or your gloved hand and brush upwards to lift the weight rather than push it down. A quick shake can work, though winter wood turns brittle and rough handling may cause breaks.

Little and often beats a single heroic effort. Pop out between showers to keep the canopy free, and the job stays easy. The less the build up, the lower the risk.

• Brush upwards with a soft broom to lift snow without snapping fine twigs

The roofline risk that catches gardeners out after a thaw

Plants tucked under the **roofline** sit in the danger zone. Sloping roofs hold a surprising amount of compacted snow and ice. When temperatures lift, that slab can slide and crash onto beds below, flattening stems and breaking framework in seconds.

Give those spots temporary shelter before a thaw. Staked burlap works, as does protective **frost cloth** for **plants**. Use bamboo canes, hazel poles or sturdy sticks to setup a simple tent that takes the hit. It might look ungainly for a few days, but it shields prized shrubs and saves you from pruning out torn limbs later.

Keep paths clear as well so you can reach supports safely. A calm five minutes before the drip begins pays off once the roof sheds its load.

Do Christmas lights really protect shrubs from snow

Some gardeners wrap trees in strings and hope for a little warmth. You can use lights to help in winter, though there are rules to follow. Choose non LED bulbs and keep them from touching foliage. Festoon or Christmas lights can create a trace of heat that limits build up, but running them for a long spell is not advisable.

The same goes for **potted plants** on patios. Many will tolerate a light cover, yet containers cool faster and suffer when weighed down. Move evergreens in pots closer to the house for slight shelter and warmth during icy nights. You can also group containers to cut wind exposure, then check them after each fall.

Keep an eye on strain points where branches fork and along hedgetops. Tidy work now prevents splits that invite disease later. And if in doubt, clear a little today rather than a lot tomorrow when the freeze bites harder and the **snow** turns crusty.