Piled snow has wreaked havoc on Anchorage yards. Here’s what to expect as you get working in your lawn and plants.

What a crazy winter. We survived. It is spring. Even so, I know I am not the only one looking out on a yard still full of snow, wondering what will appear once it is all gone. Thankfully, it is melting away.

So what to expect? I am not worried about snow mold. With a bit of sunlight and warmer weather, the fine mycelium which are the hallmarks of snow mold — and cause all the bother — will melt away. Or, I can rake it away with a leaf rake once the lawn is dry and thus safe to walk on. Prove me wrong, but I’ve never seen an Alaska lawn taken out by snow mold.

Then there is the possibility of mazes of mess made in the appearing lawn by voles. I am not sure we’ll have any, but if we do, these won’t bother me either. Oh sure, voles can rip up a whole lawn; I have been called in to inspect some pretty bad damage. However, vole damage repairs itself the first month of warm weather as the critters don’t normally get the roots of the plants. If you are worried, you can always toss on a few handfuls of grass seed or clover down, but there usually is no need.

Girdled trees, where the bark has been totally removed by voles, however, are a different story. Only young trees are hit so we won’t have any, but I hope the disappearing snow doesn’t reveal this kind of damage on your young trees. It is not repairable if the trunk has been completely girdled. Next fall, wrap newly planted trees with foil or wire.

Listen to the “Teaming with Microbes” podcast:

What I am curious about are the islands created in the lawn by last year’s “no mow.” I am trying to get rid of the traditional lawn in our backyard. I want the tall grassy, natural look I see surrounding all those fancy landscaped houses in magazines. To that end I mowed in paths last spring and didn’t touch all season the islands created. I am thinking these are going to look pretty ratty, all matted down, but then I think about all the tall grasses along our highways that quickly recover from winter. We shall see.

One thing is already clear: there is going to be plenty of tree debris. It is strewn all over the place as never before. As the snow melts, each of our many past storm reveals a new layer, increasing the amount of work that is going to be involved.

And, this year’s winter means there may be limbs up in trees that a pose a danger and may have to be removed. So you know where they are located once the tree leafs out, take pictures now. As noted last week, you may want to make an appointment with a tree-cutting professional now. They are going to be very busy this spring.

I am also very curious to see how those shrubs smooshed by the successive snowfalls do. I have a few lilacs whose branch tips are still bent over and encased in snow. The bent lilacs look like resting octopuses dotting the lawn. Are they going to bounce back or am I going to have to do some drastic pruning? I suppose I could pull them out of their prison now and try to get them to return to normal form. Better to wait until sap is flowing and leaves form and when they are not so stiff. Hopefully, they have the will, not to mention the necessary hormones, to straighten up and fly right!

Soon enough I will have my answers and so will you. We still have a way to go, at least in our yard, but the geese return to Anchorage in another week or so and soon after that we will be working out in our yards instead of looking at them.

Jeff’s Alaska Garden Calendar:

Alaska Botanical Garden: Have you joined?

Bears are up: It is time to bring inside all of the bird seed on your property. Clean up the feeders. Don’t attract bears to your yard this spring.

Dog duty: Last call on picking up Fido’s frozen droppings.

Flower seeds to start: Dianthus, stock, lockspar, delphinium, cosmos, snaps, ageratum, seed dahlia, godetia, aster, phlox, celosia, malva, salvia, lupine.

Vegetables to start from seed: Peppers, kale, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, head lettuce, cabbage.

Herbs: Parsley, shiso

Nurseries: They are open. Early birds get the worms.