Snow, silent woods, snow-covered mountains. A scene we associate with winter and nature’s rest. But beneath that white blanket, in the woods and reforested areas, there is much more going on than we imagine. In this article, we discover why snow is not a problem for trees — quite the contrary — and how it plays a key role in protecting forests, especially in the mountains. So is snow an ally for trees? Let’s find out together.
Winter landscapes and young trees under the snow
When heavy snowfall covers a newly reforested area, the first reaction is often one of concern. How can young seedlings just 60–80 centimeters tall survive under all that weight?
The answer is surprising: snow does not crush or damage young plants, but creates a protected environment that helps them cope with winter.
How trees cope with the cold: different strategies
Not all plants react to winter in the same way. Over the course of evolution, trees have developed different strategies to survive the cold and reach spring.
Deciduous trees: losing leaves to save energy
Deciduous trees, such as oaks and beeches, are deciduous: in autumn, they lose all their leaves. Keeping their foliage in winter would be too costly. Sunlight is weaker, photosynthesis slows down, and producing energy becomes difficult.
Letting the leaves fall allows the tree to save water, nutrients, and energy, while also reducing the risk of damage from pests. Furthermore, without leaves, snow does not accumulate on the canopy, which could break branches and cause the plant to deteriorate.
Conifers: resisting frost with different leaves
Pines, firs, and other conifers adopt the opposite strategy. Their needles have a small surface area, lose less water, and are more resistant to frost. This allows the plant to continue photosynthesis, albeit slowly, even during winter.
However, there are interesting exceptions, such as the larch: a coniferous tree that turns yellow in autumn and loses its needles completely, adopting a strategy similar to that of deciduous trees.
The role of forests in winter: stability and safety
A mature forest continues to perform essential functions even in the coldest months. In the mountains, trunks, branches, and roots help stabilize snow and soil, reducing the risk of avalanches and erosion.
Several studies show that when trees are at least twice as tall as the snow cover, the forest acts as a natural barrier, slowing down or preventing avalanches.
Another fundamental aspect is that nothing is wasted in nature. Dry branches, fallen leaves, and dead wood become shelter and a source of nourishment for insects and microorganisms, contributing to biodiversity even in winter.
Many animals, from birds to small mammals, find shelter under the canopy of fir trees and inside forests, which become true refuge areas in winter.
What happens when the forest is gone?
Extreme weather events such as Storm Vaia and Storm Alex have knocked down millions of trees, leaving large areas of mountainous terrain bare. In these contexts, the risk of avalanches, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss increases.
It is precisely in these areas that reforestation becomes essential. Planting young trees accelerates the regrowth of the forest and the return of its many environmental benefits.
Is snow good for trees?
Contrary to what you might think, snow cover offers at least three major advantages for young plants.
1. Protection from animals
In winter, food is scarce, especially for ungulates such as deer and roe deer, which like to feed on shoots. Snow hides young plants, making them less accessible.
2. Insulation from the cold
Snow acts as an insulating blanket. With a snow cover about one meter thick and an outside temperature of -10 °C, the temperature at ground level remains around 0 °C. This is a huge difference for the survival of young plants. Here will be inserted the link to the scientific study on the insulating role of snow and ground temperature.
3. Water reserve for spring
In spring, the snow melts slowly, seeping into the ground and replenishing the soil and aquifers. This promotes vegetative growth and supports the entire ecosystem.
“Under the snow, bread; under the rain, hunger.”
An old peasant proverb, “Under the snow, bread; under the rain, hunger,” perfectly sums up this balance. Snow protects and nourishes the soil, ensuring future harvests. Heavy and prolonged rainfall, on the other hand, can damage the soil and seeds.
Reforestation in the mountains means protecting the future
As we saw in our video “Is snow good for trees?”, planting new trees is not just about reforestation. It means protecting the soil, stabilizing the snow, reducing the risk of avalanches, and building more resilient ecosystems capable of supporting flora, fauna, and people.
In all this, snow is not an obstacle, but a valuable ally for our forests.
Would you like to help us? Adopt a tree and come and plant it with us in our reforestation projects.
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