Will small evergreens covered by snow be harmed?

[denverian]

I have a couple varieties of evergreen Boxwood (established hedges now) and I used to worry about them. But the snow has never harmed them at all. I don't even bother brushing them off now, so the branches must be strong. One of the hedges is about 30 feet long and 3 feet tall. Stays green all winter, no matter the snow or low temps.

[weltschmerz]

Originally Posted by JohnZ963

I have numerous small evergreens growing in my yard that I have planted during the last year or two. Spruces, white pines, etc. Most are only 1-3' tall. However, they are all completely covered in snow to the point that you can't see them anymore. We've had some near-record snowfall this winter where I live. Some layers of the snowfall are ice. The trees aren't near a road, so road salt is not a factor.

Will being completely covered in snow until probably March (when it melts) harm these trees?

If little evergreens were harmed by snow, Canada wouldn't have any forests.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by lsb3

I am well aware of the advantages of snow as a great mulch and insulator, however I don't understand how these small shrubs perform photosynthesis when they are completely covered with snow.

Even evergreens are "resting" during the winter, and do not have the same need for light that they do the rest of the year. A good example is the mighty Sitka Spruce of Alaska, which grows just fine to 300 feet tall and 15 feet in diameter at the base in Alaska where there may only be 3-4 hours of daylight in winter, and covered by snow.