The Fence Post

Road Safety, Controlling Drifts, and Field Management

Using research done in Wyoming, here are some videos from the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service explaining the benefits and functionality of snow fences.

Have you ever seen these snow fences in operation? Would snow fences be appropriate for your situation? Is the scale of these snow fences too big?

Drifts Impacted

How can you prevent snow from drifting over fields, highways, and roads? Snow fence creates an effective barrier that slows wind-borne snow, causing it to drop downwind of the barrier. Both height and porosity of the fence have an impact on the size of the drifts. There are different types of snow fences:

Wood Slat Snow Fence

Wood slat snow fence is available in rolls, usually 48" x 50'. Fairly lightweight and easy to handle, this traditional type is made of wood laths woven together with four or five double strands of galvanized wire. The cost of a wood slat snow fence is determined by the species of wood used, the open space between slats, the thickness and width of the slats, and the gauge of the wire used. Rolls are available with a red-stained finish or a natural unstained finish. Other colors may be available on a custom order basis. There may be minimum quantity requirements.

Plastic Snow Fence

Flexible, lightweight, easy to handle and store, plastic mesh snow fence is gaining in popularity. The mesh of horizontal openings is designed to slow the wind carrying the snow, ensuring that the snow is dropped close to the downwind side of the fence. Rolls are 48" tall and are either 50' or 100' long. Black and orange colors of plastic snow fence are available.

Wood Board Snow Fence

This type of permanent snow fence is more common in areas that receive heavy snowfall and strong winds. 2" x 6" horizontal boards are secured to vertical posts. 1" x 6" or 1" x 8" vertical boards are sometimes nailed to the horizontal boards. This style can be as tall as 8½ feet. Angle braces are sometimes used to prop up the fence so that it will withstand heavy winds.

Living Snow Fence

Snow fences can be made by planting trees and shrubs in such a pattern that areas downwind are protected from drifting snow. These living fences require little if any maintenance. No rolls have to be taken down and stored. The fence acts as an attractively landscaped windbreak during the summer months.

Do you have problems with drifting snow? What is the best thing you have used to control the problem?

Strong winter winds can cause dangerous driving conditions. Not only does blowing snow dramatically reduce visibility but also treacherous drifts can accumulate across roadways and other open unprotected areas.

A Natural Barrier

Several states have successful programs in place using living snow fence. The Iowa DOT has been developing and improving theirs for over 40 years. Living snow fencing is a natural barrier created by planting a combination of shrubs, trees and grasses that act as a windbreak. In Iowa, rows are five feet apart and shrubs are set three feet apart within the row. Plantings are arranged so that the gaps in one row are filled by the plants in the next row.  As the speed of the wind is disrupted and decreased, snow settles among and downwind from the plantings. Research shows that drifts will form downwind 10 to 12 times the height of the trees (100 to 120 feet downwind from a 10 tree). A concentrated and closely spaced placement of trees and shrubs results in shorter and deeper drifts.

When positioned properly, living snow fences can greatly reduce the amount of plowing needed to keep roads open for travel. Winter travel is safer.

Native Species with Reduced Erosion 

There are benefits in addition to safety when living snow fencing is used:

• Highway beautification is enhanced with native species of plants.
• Environmental stewardship is promoted.
• Trees, shrubs and grasses are excellent wildlife habitat all year.
• Living snow fences slow and reduce erosion.
• When measured during winter months the temperature of the pavement surface in areas protected by living snow fence were higher than the surface temperature in unprotected areas.
• In areas with severe cold, this greatly increases the effectiveness of chemicals used to prevent icing.
• It is no longer necessary to install and remove wood or plastic snow fence.

If you live in an area that gets lots of snow, what type of snow fence does the DOT use?

Wood, plastic or natural living snow fence: which type of snow fencing would you prefer to see?

Interested in other types of living fence? Read our blog article Living Fencing.

- photos from NYSDOT

The Aesthetic Edge

Living fencing can be an alternative to conventional wire, wood, vinyl and masonry fences. As noted in David Beaulieu's excellent article "Living Walls as Privacy Fences", living fencing has certain advantages:

• lower cost
• more attractive
• fruit production
• reduces traffic noise
• seasonal foliage variation
• provides a habitat for birds and small animals
• sometimes less restricted by zoning regulations
• can be pruned and sculpted into different shapes

Simplicity, Beauty, Style

Living fences make excellent privacy screens around your property. Planting a thicket of small trees or shrubs creates an effective barrier. Flowering bushes, deciduous and evergreen shrubs can be planted. The type of plants used will determine the height, width and appearance of the fence. How they are planted will determine the visual and physical tightness of the barrier. If necessary, a conventional fence can also be used to keep pets and children in the yard. A living fence can also be used around smaller areas in the yard such as patios.

An Efficient Windbreak

Living snow fences can also be a great alternative to plastic or wood snow fencing. The design will determine downwind snow distribution. A dense multiple row living snow fence will pile snow in a restricted area, reducing the need to plow highways and driveways. To make windbreak for the uniform distribution of snow across a field, a single row of tall deciduous trees can be spaced 15 to 20 feet apart. Snow will be distributed to a distance of 10 to 15 times the height of the trees.

Creating a Beautiful Hedge

A good hedge doesn't stop the wind but breaks up as it rushes across the land, sparing plants needing protection. A solid fence can sometimes create a pocket of air as it surmounts the top of the fence whereas a hedge distributes the flow of wind. Happily, the hedge creates a habitat for birds and enhances the environment. Be careful in your choice of plants for a hedge. For privacy and a consistent wind block, look for a hedge that doesn't drop its leaves in winter. Some research is required.

Here's a video about a boxwood hedge that may be of interest:

Learn more about living snow fences. 

Have you ever considered planting a living fence? Would living snow fencing be a solution that would work for you?