First the positive:
1. Plants LOVE a good snow mulch
2. Cold weather weeds like bittercress aren't germinating
3. No frost heaving of perennials
4. Plenty of moisture in the soil come spring time
5. Potentially less bugs this coming spring- maybe even a reduction of really bad ones like Emerald Ash Borer

Now for the negatives:
1. There's going to be a lot of broken limbs this spring. 
Snow plow damage, ice and snow accumulation, strong winds, etc. are doing a number on the woody shrubs, ornamental trees and evergreens this year.  If you're going to take it on yourself, start with sharp pruners and saws, and make clean cuts in the correct location.  Don't just remove the broken branch at the snap, consider the future growth pattern of the plant as well as proper location for the wounded bark to seal itself.

2. Animal damage. 
Those cute little creatures that you love to watch have been hungry this winter.  Very, very hungry and as such have been helping themselves to plants that they don't usually eat.  If you have a rabbit population, you'll find that some of your shrubs will be missing all their bark at the snow line.  If you have deer, well...I'm sorry.  The regular winter forage of animals (in a typical snow fall year) consists of dried grasses and small, tender buds and branches.  This has all been under snow cover since early December, so they have been eating what they can reach- the bark and buds of your favorite shrubs and small trees.  And in regards to the not so cute creatures? The voles, mice and other rodents have been busy tunneling under all that snow and creating havoc in their own special ways.

3. Winter burn.
Evergreens in particular are susceptible to winter burn, as they continue to photosynthesis all winter. This may show up on the side of the plant exposed to wind or sun first, but often the whole tree is effected. When the ground freezes solid, or the frost line goes too deep, moisture is no longer available to replace that which is lost by the needles during transpiration.  The needles will turn brown, or in the case of broadleaved evergreens like Rhododendrons, the terminal buds will abort.  There are ways to prevent this, including treating newly planted evergreens with anti-desiccant before winter sets in, selecting varieties that aren't as susceptible, installing screens or wraps, and carefully plant placement.

4. Snow mold.
Yuck!  Your lawn looks terrible this spring- what happened to all that lush green grass you were looking forward to mowing?  Snow mold most often occurs during winter conditions like this one- the first snow falls on unfrozen turf, and then the snow cover persists for three months or more.  Sigh.

5. Cold blasted buds.
Many of the plants we grow here are marginally hardy.  Magnolia, redbud, dogwood, azalea, fruit trees such as cherry, peach and plum can all be nipped in the bud, so to say, by a long period of record low temperatures.  Will it kill the trees?  Probably not, but it will definitely damage the new buds. These plants all do well here, buffered by the lake effect we enjoy from Lake Michigan. We may not see flowers this year and possibly have lots of dead spots on the tips of the branches.  New growth may come from latent buds, rather than the usual ends of the branches.  Wait until new growth has started pushing before you do any pruning to remove the dead spots.

Concerned about what your landscape is going to look like come spring?  Give us a ring or email, we'll help talk you through it!

People aren’t the only living creatures who will appreciate your beautiful outdoor living space.  Wildlife, particularly deer and rabbits, may be drawn to your garden retreat, confusing it as an open invitation to feast on your beloved annuals, perennials and foliage.  Hostas, tulips, sweet peas, morning glories, forsythia, honeysuckle, roses, irises, lilies, and young trees and shrubs are all examples of tempting offerings.

Some plants, on the other hand, are not appealing to foraging palates.  Deer and rabbits are not partial to plants with thorns, strong odors or flavors (think herbs), sap, thick, furry or rough-textured leaves, or succulents.  Consider alternatives like alliums, lavender, poppies, daffodils, hardy geraniums and columbine. 
 
If you simply must have palatable plants in your landscape, consider adding some wildlife repellents such as human or dog hair or scented bar soap.  There are other commercially available deterrents, but what repels deer may not keep away rabbits.

Preventive options include keeping your yard free of brush piles and installing wire fencing at heights appropriate for keeping out deer or rabbits.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension has published an extensive list of plants and their relative deer resistance.  This is a great place to start when looking for deer proofing your landscape!  I recommend viewing the pdf file, as it is organized a bit clearer into plant groupings.