The magic of Snowdrops

Our Managing Editor was out visiting a client's lawn this week and spotted his first Snowdrops of the year.  How great they looked in a frost bound garden! 

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are perennial flowering plants native to large parts of Europe.  Found in many woodlands, churchyards, parks and gardens, snowdrops are some of the first bulbs of the year to bloom. 

This early flowering, which carpets the ground between January and April, is aided by hardened leaf tips that can push through frozen soil.  The downside to flowering in winter is that pollinating insects are scarce, so these little drops of snow spread mainly through bulb division.

It is natural for some lawns, especially north facing lawns, lawns under trees and in the shade to thin out over the cold winter months.  You will see in the image that was taken in The Hague in The Netherlands that the grass cover has thinned where the Snowdrops are growing.

Once we get back to slightly warmer temperatures in a few weeks time and especially after an application of lawn fertiliser, the grasses that remain in the lawn will quickly put on a spurt of growth.  A bit of over seeding with new grass seed will also be required so as to eradicate any bare areas as you get into later spring time other moss and weeds will quickly fill the bare soil.

Thanks to the BBC Nature Web Site for the text

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