Lake effect snow is the snowfall that results from cold air blowing across the warmer surface of a body of water, specifically a lake. The difference in temperature causes evaporation, sending the warmth and moisture of the lake surface up into the air. Once there, the cold air turns the warm moisture into snow and drops it on the land near the lake. But if you're prepared for it and design a more resilient garden, lake effect snow can actually be beneficial in the long run, and the negative impacts can largely be prevented. To do that, it's important to know how lake effect snow impacts your garden (both the good and the bad) as well as what you can do to prepare your garden before the surprise snowfall hits.