When thinking about plants and snow and what is going to happen, we often think about the weather. Something that is often overlooked is the soil temperature. The soil temperature can play a big role in what is going on outside with our plants and the snow.

During the winter, the soil temperature/ground temperature can dictate how much of the falling snow sticks to the ground. If the surface temperatures are too warm, then the snow will melt on contact or shortly after. Once the ground temperature is near or below freezing, the snow will stick better to the ground. Now there are other factors that can change this, like a layer of ice that froze because of very cold air temperatures. Or a heavy snow fall in a short amount of time can overpower warmer ground temperatures and cause the snow to stick. How frozen the ground is can also determine how much sod is damaged in the winter because of plowing. If the ground freezes before any plowing starts, it lessens the chances of damaged sod because it is froze to the ground.

For the growing season, there are many different things, good and bad, that depend on the soil temperature. For example, grass roots need the soil temperature between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit to be actively growing. Crab grass starts to germinate when the soil temperature reaches 57 degrees Fahrenheit to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants need warm enough soil temperatures to do what they are suppose to do.

If you are ever interested in the soil temperatures around you, Michigan State University has a network of soil temperatures. Just choose the closest station to you.

Knowing what the ground temperatures are can help when looking at your landscape, and it can help to figure why the snow does or does not stick to the ground. Ground temperatures are often forgotten, but do play a role is the landscape.

Leave a Comment