Poor Man's Fertilizer - Late Spring Snow

Many of us awoke to a snow-covered world here in Maine this morning. While it may be a bit discouraging to wake up to snow so soon after the massive banks have melted, there is a reason to rejoice. This light covering of snow has been referred to as poor man's fertilizer for generations and rightly so. 


Snow and rain contain high amounts of nitrogen, a vital nutrient for green, growing things. When this late-season snow arrives, it covers the landscape and melts slowly releasing the nitrogen into the soil. Although the amount of nitrogen is small compared to commercial fertilizer, it does improve the soil and gives plants a boost of nitrogen.


You may also have noticed that lawns and flowerbeds 'green up' quickly when the sun comes out after a good spring rain. What you may not know it that the nitrogen released from the rain is part of the reason for that.


So, if you woke up to a blanket of snow today, don't despair. Give thanks to Mother Nature for sending down life-giving nitrogen for your plants.