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The garden does not need a summer workload in winter, but leaving it completely unattended is unhelpful. A torn cover, wet snow on a crown or water at a tree's base is easier to address when it appears than deal with in spring. Plan a short route around vulnerable plantings and walk it after significant weather changes.
Assess safety first
Inspect trees from the path and do not stand beneath a damaged hanging branch. If heavy snow or ice is high up, do not try to knock it down with a long pole. Major breaks and dangerous branches need suitable tools and professional handling.
Assess loading carefully on accessible small conifers. Fresh, light snow can be removed gently while supporting branches. Do not force off frozen crusts: needles and shoots may come off with them. Snow and other winter injury — University of Minnesota Extension.
Check covers and trunk guards
Look for wind-lifted edges, covers resting on shrubs and fittings constricting branches. Trunk guards should retain free space. Check whether their upper edge has fallen below the snow level, making bark easier for rodents to reach.
Adjust fittings without sharply bending frozen branches. If a frame needs substantial repositioning, choose a suitable weather window rather than rush work with brittle shoots.
Check water after a thaw
Note where meltwater approaches root collars, containers and cover bases. Do not pile snow from chemically treated paths beside plants. If ice repeatedly forms around a planting, record the water source and plan drainage changes.
Assess the growing medium in portable containers under suitable winter storage conditions. Do not water a frozen root ball as though it were a normal summer planting. Choose inspection frequency according to the crop, storage location and temperature.
Make a note rather than start a major cleanup
A routine winter walk needs only a short checklist: covers intact, fittings loose, no dangerous load and no accumulating water. Photograph doubtful spots from the same viewpoint. Do not begin unscheduled heavy pruning merely because leaves no longer hide the crown.
By spring, the log will reveal recurring problems. You may need to move containers, improve a wind screen or change runoff direction. Small regular checks let you make those decisions from observations rather than guesswork once winter ends.