It's a common enough question: do I bash the snow off my plants or not? Generally speaking, yes, if it can be done without damaging the plants, because the weight of snow can disfigure and even break off delicate branches.
Rather like the railways, however, with the air so exceptionally and consistently cold, we are experiencing the wrong kind of snow. The sub-zero (sub-minus-ten last night) temperatures have caused the snow to freeze solid, leaving the leaves and branches encrusted with ice. Whilst there may be a risk that that branches will snap with the weight of the snow, the process of its removal may bring greater risk. Accordingly one must assess the need and risk for each individual plant.
There are of course plants that are unlikely to take the weight of snow at all, and at Iford these are dealt with delicately and soon after snowfall ends whilst the snow is still 'warm'. The horizontal junipers on the terrace (see photo), and trees which overhang high terraced walls often grow in an uneven fashion, and the snow-load can put undue strain on the roots.
A mediaeval pikestaff might do the trick, or in our case a piece of 2x1 baton, using a gentle poking action from a distance to avoid getting the snow in one's boots.
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