Walking on snow-covered grass can cause damage

By Mary Boldan, Mary Moisand and Donna Siemro

Q. My neighbor told me not to walk on my snow-covered frozen grass? What damage can walking on the grass cause?

A. Walking on snow-covered grass compacts the snow and insulates the grass, keeping it colder when the soil begins to warm. This could smother the grass and allow snow mold, a fungus, to develop. Walking on frozen grass damages the crowns of the grass plants and breaks the blades of grass. Repeatedly walking across the same frozen expanse of grass may leave an unwanted path when the ground thaws.

Q. How do I remove heavy snow and ice from my evergreens without damaging them?

A. Remove snow by sweeping carefully with a broom using an upward motion to lift the snow off the branches. Avoid vigorously shaking the branches to remove the snow. Allow ice to melt on its own. Trying to remove ice may cause more limb breakage than if you leave it on the branches. If branches are heavily coated with ice, you may want to prop them up with boards to avoid breakage until the ice melts.

Q. For some reason this year, after trimming down my carpet roses down for the winter, I found that a lot of grass, weeds and dandelions were growing in between the branches at the base of the plants. It is very difficult to weed the grass and weeds out because of the thorns. Also some maple tree seeds fell and started growing in the same spots.

Is it possible to spray the carpet roses with weed killer without killing the roses? Or what else would you recommend to eradicate these unwanted growths?

A. Do not use a weed killer. You will definitely kill the roses. Instead, put on a good pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands, and remove as many as the weeds as possible. Next, apply 2 to 3 inches of pine bark mulch around the roses. The mulch will snuff out the weeds.

Ÿ Provided by Mary Boldan, Mary Moisand and Donna Siemro, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. Send questions to Ask a Master Gardener, c/o Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016, (847) 298-3502 or via e-mail to cookcountymg.com@gmail.com.