Prairie Horticultural Series: Use that SNOW!
- Help in the Garden
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Through this series, I share what I'm learning through the Prairie Horticulture Certificate program at the University of Saskatchewan. This article in particular is adapted from coursework I completed for "Soils for Horticulture" in Winter/Spring 2026.
In the prairie provinces, snow accounts for approximately 25% of the total annual precipitation. (1) Snowfall may accumulate on roofs, roadways/walkways, and garden spaces. Using this snow more effectively in your garden spaces can protect your plants and soil, and can be directed to where it can be most beneficial to you.
First Step:
OBSERVE
Carefully observe how water behaves in your garden spaces throughout the year, but especially in the spring when there is likely an abundance of water due to snowmelt. Make note of areas of water pooling, extended presence of snow/ice, slopes, and dry areas:
Water pooling may indicate soil compaction, excess water, a low-lying area, or adjacency to a slope, such as a berm or hill, all of which could benefit from considered intervention.
Extended presence of snow/ice indicates shadier areas, which may have lower water usage and therefore may not benefit from diverted snow or snow water.
Slopes may experience runoff and soil erosion and may benefit from improved snow capture and snow water retention.
Dry areas may benefit from the addition of available snow or snow water.
Second Step:
IDENTIFY
Identify the source and suitability of available snow and snow water for use. Sources can include melted roof snow and where snow has accumulated on the ground due to either snowfall or human intervention (movement from roadways/walkways/other areas).
NOTE: Snow in general may absorb what it encounters and thus have contaminants from vehicle exhaust, persistent organic pollutants, and ice melt products, (2) while roof melt may contain contaminants such as chemicals leached from roofing materials and microorganisms. (3) These water sources are not suitable for watering consumable plants in my garden spaces due to the potential for contamination, but can be useful for other watering needs. If you are unsure of the safety of a source: Consider the potential for contamination, try to get answers to any questions you have, and use your best judgement. You can always let this source remain where it currently is and not specifically use it.
Third Step:
IMPROVE
Improving areas of water pooling can take place once the cause is understood. Some possible solutions include: improving soil structure, proper grading, improving snow/water retention on slopes, and diverting water from susceptible areas.
Soil Structure: Intricately arranged soil components form a vital kaleidoscope in which life can thrive. Various practices can disrupt this structure, modifying how the soil supports plant, animal and microbial life, and how it handles water. Adding compost to your soil can improve soil structure over time, while mulching and reducing traffic through this area will limit compacting influences. While tilling the soil can seem like it is improving it, it disrupts the soil structure and can negatively impact it over time. For further information on tilling, please check out: https://gardening.usask.ca/articles-and-lists/articles-notillgardening/2five-pillars.php
Grading: If the area is low-lying, correcting the grade may be necessary to allow water to more evenly supply the soil.
Improved Snow/Water Retention on Slopes: If the area is at the base of an elevated area, the use of perennial grasses and/or furrows on the slope may improve conditions by holding snow in place, reducing water erosion down a slope, diverting water laterally, and, in the case of perennial grasses, providing deep roots to anchor the soil and take up moisture.
Diverting Water: If a low-lying area cannot be raised due to the presence of mature plants, carefully diverting the water from susceptible plants may be needed.
Once identified improvements have been made, directing the snow and water to new areas can be initiated.
Directing Snow: Snow can be moved to new areas prior to melting or harvested into water-tight containers and allowed to melt. If ice melting products are used on the snow that is being moved, the use of this snow on garden spaces may not be appropriate due to increasing salinity, therefore cautious and sparing use of ice melting products or instead using gravel/sand may increase the usability of this snow.
Directing Water: Water may be captured through downspouts into water holding containers or directed to specific areas. The use of water holding containers is not for the faint of heart, as fluctuating temperatures in the springtime can lead to freeze/thaw cycles which may damage the containers and lead to water loss. Should this route be chosen, prepare to drain the water if freezing temperatures are forecasted. In draining the water, it could be applied to areas in need such as the dripline of mature boulevard trees which, due to roadways/sidewalks, may have a limited area for water uptake. In the spring, diverting roof melt to these trees either due to a potential freezing event or as an act of kindness would prevent this water from potentially going where it isn’t needed and being lost. It is worth noting that if the trees have pooling around them, diverting water to them is not advised.
Snow can also be taken inside to melt and used to water houseplants or plants being grown for transplant outside, but similar decisions regarding suitability should be made as when using it outside.
Potential Concerns:
MOLES, VOLES, and COMPACTION
When devising your plan to increase snow and snow water use efficiency, be aware of potential issues due to snow such as mold, voles and compaction. To reduce the occurrence of snow mold, tidy lawns (cut grass and clean up leaf litter prior to snowfall), and limit how much snow is piled up on lawns. (4) Tidying lawns will also reduce vole nesting materials. These non-hibernating animals can use snow as a protective layer for their dens, and feed on nearby vegetation, including tree bark, bulbs and grasses. Along with lawn tidying, packing down snow, careful mulch placement, and reducing dense vegetation can help reduce the ability of voles to thrive in your garden spaces. (5) Compaction due to snow weight may be an issue in larger scale “mountains” of snow, but less likely in smaller snow diversion projects.
In summary, to improve the efficiency of snow and snow water usage, OBSERVE the current behaviour of water in the designated area, IDENTIFY areas in need of remediation or water diversion, and IMPROVE the identified areas.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is intended to empower you to make informed decisions but does not constitute professional advice for your specific circumstances. If you are making changes to your garden spaces, be sure to have a discussion with a qualified individual who is able to visit your site and discuss your specific needs.
References:
Government of Canada. (2017, September 10). Water Sources: snow and ice. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/sources/snow-ice.html
Eduok U. (2022, October 17). Snow can spread and worsen the effects of pollutants in the environment. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/snow-can-spread-and-worsen-the-effects-of-pollutants-in-the-environment-191651
Gwenzi W., Dunjana N., Pisa C., Tauro T., Nyamadzawo G. Water quality and public health risks associated with roof rainwater harvesting systems for potable supply: Review and perspectives. Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology. 2015;6:107-118.
Gardening at USask. (2021, March 23).Snow mold. University of Saskatchewan. https://gardening.usask.ca/articles-and-lists/articles-diseases/disease-snow-mold.php
Gardening at USask. (n.d.). Mice and Voles - Grow with USask. University of Saskatchewan. https://gardening.usask.ca/documents/grow-with-us-pdfs/miceandvoles_website2025.pdf
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