Working Trees

Living Snow Fence

An agroforestry practice

With action 

similar 

to scattered 

rocks 

in a stream, 

living snow 

fences create 

eddy effects that 

alter wind speed 

and direction, 

causing snow 

to settle in 

designated 

areas, protecting 

roadways, 

structures, 

livestock 

and wildlife.

Photo: Craig Stange, NRCS

Winter winds and blowing and drifting snow have the 

power to disrupt lives. Almost 

every year local radio stations 

announce school and road 

closures because of blowing and 

drifting snow. 

Sometimes miles of road will 

be closed when only a small 

segment has been drifted over. 

Blowing and drifting snow 

jeopardizes public safety and 

emergency services, interrupts businesses, increases road 

maintenance costs and causes 

livestock and wildlife mortality.

Structural barriers, such as 

horizontal or vertical slatted 

snow fences, are a proven technique for reducing the impact of 

blowing and drifting snow. 

With an action similar to scattered rocks in a flowing stream, 

these barriers create eddy effects 

that alter wind speed and direction, causing snow to settle out. 

When roads are subject to recurring snow blockage, a more 

permanent, cost-effective 

solution is often desirable and 

needed.

An alternative to a structural 

snow fence are rows of living 

plants such as grasses, shrubs 

and trees. Often called living 

snow fences, these are strategically planted windbreaks that 

have been specifically designed to 

reduce blowing and drifting snow.

Like a structural barrier, they 

cause blowing snow to settle in a 

designated area.

Living snow fences are more 

cost-effective than structural barriers, can meet many additional 

objectives, and provide a wide 

array of benefits beyond snow 

control.
Why use a living snow fence?

Living snow fences offer a wide range 

of benefits that continue to improve and 

multiply as a living snow fence grows 

and matures, such as longevity, 

cost-effectiveness, reduced annual 

maintenance, snow and dust 

containment, wildlife and pollinator habitat. 

Photo: Gary Kuhn, NRCS

Photo: National Agroforestry Center

Efficacy

A living snow fence is more 

efficient in capturing snow 

than a slatted fence. When 

mature, a living snow fence, 

depending on its design, may 

capture up to 12 times more 

snow than a slatted fence and 

can be designed to conserve 

energy for farmsteads, rural 

buildings, livestock and community facilities.

Living snow fences also can 

provide habitat for wildlife to 

nest, feed and escape, as well 

as attract pollinators.

Service life

The life of a living snow 

fence is estimated at 40-50 

years, while that of a slatted snow fence is 7-20 years, 

which means that over a 50-

year span, the installation and 

maintenance costs of a slatted 

snow fence could be 4-7 times 

greater than a living snow 

fence. 

Considerations 

 Although living snow fences 

have many benefits, these do 

not come without consideration that they require more 

space than slatted fences and 

that land is effectively out of 

production. Also, new plantings must be protected from 

livestock and wildlife.

 While more effective at snow 

control than slatted fences, living 

snow fences may take 5 to 7 

years to develop. Living snow 

fences also require regular 

maintenance and their density 

will change over time.

 Finally, site conditions such 

as shallow soils and pH (acidity 

or alkalinity) may prohibit the 

establishment of a living snow 

fence.
Planning considerations

Photo: Loren St. John, NRCS Photo: Loren St. John, NRCS

1. Determine planting objectives. The objective may be as simple as the control of blowing and 

 drifting snow or more complex with multiple objectives such as providing livestock protection 

 or wildlife habitat, enhancing the beauty of the landscape or water harvest and storage.

2. Take an inventory of all site factors, including:

 • Annual precipitation and anticipated snow volume to be stored

 • Topography, aspect and distance from area to be protected 

 • Soil type — fertility, depth, wetness, texture, salinity and pH

 • Current and potential land uses, land ownership, easements, location of utilities and other 

 restrictions

 • Troublesome wind direction

3. Determine the planting stock needed by species and number.

4. Decide what site preparation work is needed.

5. Determine the fertilizer needs. Most windbreaks and living snow fences do not need to be 

 fertilized unless a nutrient deficiency shows in the growth and foliage of the trees and shrubs.

6. Determine the type of supplemental water needed to ensure plant establishment and survival. 

 An irrigation system or other types of supplemental water should be considered in areas with 

 less than 20 inches of annual precipitation or on sites that may benefit from additional water. 

 In some cases use of fabric weed barriers may provide necessary moisture conservation, 

 precluding the need for supplemental water. 

7. Determine the fencing or plant guards needed to protect young plants from grazing livestock 

 or wildlife.

8. Decide what kind of weed control will be used. Annual weeds and grasses compete with newly 

 planted trees. Using cultivation, chemical weed control, fabric weed barriers or mulching 

 significantly increases plant survival and growth rates.

9. Include proper maintenance: 

 • Frequent inspections of irrigation systems and fences allow speedy repairs when needed.

 • Regular inspection of plants to spot weed and pest problems allows quick remedial action.

 • Prompt replacement of any dead plants eliminates gaps in the living snow fence.

 • Corrective pruning of storm damage reduces future plant problems.

10. Make a plan that includes a listing of the decisions made, the date actions will need to take 

 place and who will carry out each action.

Ten steps to ensure success

It’s important 

to put the right 

plant in the 

right place, 

therefore, 

living snow 

fences must be 

well-planned 

and properly 

located 

to achieve 

the wide array 

of benefits they 

offer. 

For example, 

any snow 

fence located 

in the wrong 

place could 

cause snow to 

accumulate on 

the road instead 

of keeping it 

clear.
A significant economic factor in using living snow fences is the reduced road maintenance 

costs of snow removal.

Living snow fence design

Photo: Craig Stange, NRCS

Length

Length determines the maximum area 

that can be protected. Snow storage at the 

ends of a barrier is significantly less than 

near the center. Barrier design must extend 

far enough beyond the protected area to 

intercept winds that deviate 25 degrees 

from either direction of perpendicular. 

Extending a snow fence at least 100 feet 

beyond the area to be protected will help 

mitigate this ‘end effect.’

Density

Determine the density of a living snow 

fence by the species, number of rows, 

spacing between rows and spacing of 

plants in a row. A 50-percent dense barrier 

stores the greatest amount of snow if other 

factors are equal. Spacing between rows 

can vary depending on design criteria and 

objectives. Twin-row, high-density plantings 

are recommended due to their efficiency. 

Preferred species are evergreens, shrubs and 

low-growing broadleaf trees.

Height

Determine design barrier height (expected height at 20 years) by using the tallest 

row in a planting. Barrier height affects 

snowdrift depth and length. Snow storage 

potential can be manipulated by adjusting 

planned barrier height. Doubling the barrier 

height will increase snow storage by four 

times — an important economic factor to 

consider in species selection.

Location

Location of the living snow fence in relation to the distance from the road is critical. Orient the living snow fence as near 

perpendicular to prevailing winds as possible. Barriers placed too close to the road 

can result in drifts being deposited on the 

road. Barriers should also be compatible 

with farming practices, farming operations 

and local conditions. Typical road setbacks 

range from 100-600 feet depending on site 

conditions and geographic locations.

Plant Selection

Use of site-adapted plant species is critical to the success of a living snow fence. 

A combination of conifers, shrubs and 

low-growing broadleaf trees can provide 

multiple benefits. Incorporate other plant 

species that provide functions such as 

wildlife and pollinator habitat, aesthetics and 

added income from woody floral products 

or food producing plants. Consult your local 

USDA office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, state forestry agency or 

Cooperative Extension Service for sitespecific advice. 

Planting Protection

If livestock can access the site, then 

fencing will be necessary to protect plantings. Significant damage can occur from 

trampling, rubbing and browsing. Fencing will avoid soil compaction as well as 

physical damage to the irrigation systems 

and weed barriers that may be present. If 

wildlife damage is likely, use tree shelters 

or other forms of protection. 
Living snow fence design

Orientation, length, height and density are all factors that determine the efficacy of a living 

snow fence to capture and store the greatest amount of snow.

Critical design elements

• Orient living snow fence as near 

as possible at right angles to 

prevailing winter winds.

• Doubling the height will more 

than quadruple the amount of 

snow captured.

• Vegetation with about 50-percent density will capture and 

store the greatest amount of 

snow.

• Conifers are ideal species to 

plant because of their height and 

year-round foliage.

• Many deciduous trees and 

shrubs work well, especially in 

combination with conifers.

• Incorporate other functions into 

the design such as wildlife and 

pollinator habitat, aesthetics 

and added income from woody 

floral products or food producing plants.

Photo: Craig Stange, NRCS

Illustration: Doug Wallace, NRCS
Management 

and maintenance 

Proper care of the living snow fence 

is critical to its long-term functioning. 

A living snow fence will need regular 

maintenance and attention from the day 

it is planted. Practices such as weed 

control, protection from livestock and 

wildlife damage, corrective pruning, 

replanting, insect and disease control and 

supplemental watering may be needed 

on a continuing or periodic basis.

For more information:

For local planning and design 

assistance contact your nearest 

USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service office, 

County Extension office, 

Conservation District, state 

forestry agency or local natural 

resource consultant. 

For more information on living 

snow fences contact the USDA 

National Agroforestry Center: 

phone 402.437.5178, ext. 4011, 

or at www.unl.edu/nac/ 

Maintaining a living snow fence

With the power to disrupt lives, increase highway maintenance costs, jeopardize public safety and emergency 

services, blowing and drifting snow continues to be a hazard to both rural and city communities. Putting 

trees to work as living snow fences can be an effective way to reduce the blowing and drifting snow and are 

a cost-effective means to reduce annual highway maintenance, add an aesthetic aspect to roadways, while 

creating habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

Contact: USDA National Agroforestry Center, 402.437.5178 ext. 4011, 1945 N. 38th St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0822. www.unl.edu/nac

The USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC) is a partnership of the Forest Service (Research & Development and State & Private Forestry) and the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. NAC’s staffs are located at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE and in Blacksburg, VA. NAC’s purpose is to accelerate the development and application 

of agroforestry technologies to attain more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable land use systems by working with a national network of partners and 

cooperators to conduct research develop technologies and tools, establish demonstrations, and provide useful information to natural resource professionals.

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First Edition November 2011

Natural Resources 

Conservation Service

A partnership of

Photo: National Agroforestry Center