Snow protection for trees and shrubs in Niigata - Yukigakoi 雪囲い

When I visited Niigata last year in November, I found that the trees there are not protected in the way I knew from Tokyo and other regions of Japan.

A large amount of snow in winter makes it necessary to create very strong protections for trees on Hokkaido and along the coast of the Japanese Sea, so I decided to research the methods of these regions further!

Niigata is known as the snow country. It is not impossible that snow piles up to a 3.5m height in one season!
Such an amount of snow bears a great weight and it is necessary to protect plants, buildings and the people alike during winter.

Today I want to introduce the special snow protection methods for plants in Niigata.

Perennials and Groundcovers
There are two types of perennials, those who lose their leaves in fall and grow back in spring, and the evergreen ones.
When the sun is shining in winter, evergreen plants are continuing with photosynthesis. For this process, water is needed. When the soil is frozen, the plants cannot draw new water from it and dry up.
Evergreen perennials are protected by the snow. It hinders the photosynthesis until it becomes warm enough for the plants to start the new growing cycle in spring.
Only plants which aren’t pretty frost resistant need protection made of, for example, straw.
Wrapping non-hardy plants with straw mats is called fuyugakoi 冬囲い.

Fuyugakoi

(Low) Shrubs
If possible, the branches of shrubs are tied together to make sure that the heavy snow will not break them (Koshibori / Ōshibori 小しぼり / 大しぼり). If a single pole is added, usually bamboo, it is called Take-ippon-shibori 竹一本しぼりor Tenpu-shimetsuke 添付締付. As extra protection, wooden slats or bamboo stakes are added in campfire-style, either connected with ropes alone or even more slates/ stakes are added in between (Mitsumata-/Yotsumata-/.. shibori 三又しぼり).

Garden Trees
The decorative yukizuri, which is well known as pine protection, wouldn’t grant enough security for most trees.
A popular method to provide more protection is to install four wooden posts, which meet at the top, connect them via smaller poles and adding bamboo stakes between the wooden posts (Ensui-gata 円すい型). This will break up the snow.
Another possibility is ringo tsuri, using one pole next to the tree’s trunk and securing the branches of the tree to it.
This can be combined with previously mentioned ensui-gata.

Hedges
Either bamboo stakes are tied together to create a tent-like roof above the hedge (Gasshō-gata 合掌型), or a more or less flat construction of wooden poles and bamboo is built above it (Tanagakoi-gata 棚囲い型).

When planning the protection for shrubs and trees, it is necessary to clarify what they need to be protected from. Is it snow weight from above, snow weight from the sides, strong winds, or low temperatures. Depending on that, the protection method varies.

I hope I was able to give some insight into how gardens are protected in the snow country of Japan and it will help the one or other to protect their own trees in snow-rich countries outside of Japan.

Ensui-gata

Protecting shrubs against snow with gomata-shibori.

Nimata-shibori and Gomata-shibori.

Different types of snow protection for trees and shrubs.

Ringo tsuri on the tree to the left and right, take-ippon-shibori in the middle, mitsumata-shibori and yotsumata-shibori on the shrubs at the right side and gassho-gata on the hedge to the left.

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Anika

With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.

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