snow and grass

hey everyone, does anyone know why grass doesn't go yellow after months of snow it, sorry if this has been asked before and if im being thick, I'm sure there's a simple answer to this, many thanks!

Interesting question. I had a quick google, and picked up this thought ~ "Winterkill is most likely to happen in areas where snowfall is nonexistent and a few bright sunny days with high winds occur at the same time".

I think there will be some grass die back, but on the alps, there is the combination of warm weather and rainfall, in late spring, and this is a recipe for a quick recovery ~ days after the final melt.

Also, as the snow layer thins, there is a lot of daylight getting through the snow. Errm, I know this. I have been under a foot of the white stuff, looking up, and I could see stars....

It is because, like many plants, grass pretty much goes into hibernation during winter.
It just sits there dormant and waiting for spring. It needs very little nutrients and energy to keep its self alive and what it does need can be sourced from below.

Its kinda why you do not need to mow your lawn in winter.

I think Dave's answer makes more sense (some light getting through as depth lessens) because I raked some leaves a couple of weeks ago and the grass had gone yellow underneath them even though no grass around it was growing.
It's a good question though and something I had also thought about being a spring skier as I am!

Dids1 wrote:I think Dave's answer makes more sense (some light getting through as depth lessens) because I raked some leaves a couple of weeks ago and the grass had gone yellow underneath them even though no grass around it was growing.
It's a good question though and something I had also thought about being a spring skier as I am!

But don't forget your leaves are not going to freeze it? The grass under 2m of snow is going to be frozen solid like your frozen peas! It will retain its colour until it thaws when it is likely to get the light and warmth it needs to 'spring' back to life.

It is true that leaves are a good insulator, and that they block the light.

The principle of snowhole is that snow is an insulator. I guess it depends on the ambient ground temp, which could vary significantly either way from the air temp.

Wind slab avalanches can occur where the ground is above freezing, but the surface is well minus.

I guess there are a lot of variables.

Thanks a lot for all your input, They all sound right, Every spring i always think of this question!

offshore wrote:Thanks a lot for all your input, They all sound right, Every spring i always think of this question!

Bit of Saddo, really, Offshore! :wink: