Problem with snowblower snow is that it is much denser than fallen snow....all the voids (air) have been squeezed out. It is probably more similar to avalanche deposited snow. So, besides the initial loads on the branches, you also have the branches pulled down and stripped off as the snow pile melts. I'd go with the wood structure if I were you.

I'd say the usual strategy is to plant things that can take the situation without help. Fairly flexible deciduous shrubs or perennials work.

Otherwise, you could build some A-frame covers. They would probably have to be fairly large, but fold up and store easily, and shed snow instead of having to support it.

lets clarify ... you do NOT have a snow load issue ... you have a snowblower issue ... not to mention an operator issue ...

im kinda surprised this is an issue in z7 .. here in real snow country .. MI ... we have enough practice to learn how to throw snow where we want it to go .. rather than at plants .. or in the alternative... we move the plants .. or even better.. plant them knowing snow movement will be an issue ...

so the moral of that long boring story is ... move them ... imo ...

i would not spend a hundred bucks building a snow contraption .. to save a couple 5 dollar plants ... its the old cost benefit ratio .. [unless you are a tool guy.. and just make up projects to use your wood tools.. and then all the power to ya.. lol]

how about a pic of the spot.. and maybe we can figure something out ...

btw.. how often do you have these snows???

ken

I live about less than a mile off the water, so the snow we usually get is wet snow. Re: the snowfall total , I would say on average , it's only about 3 times a year that I need to be concerned about the amount and the ~splaying~ of the shrubs....

Then again, the 1 noreaster we had this year was accumulation enough that the plastic buckets saved them....

I know it's not the ideal location, but we're out here in Gotham City, where housing is dense and the just short of being that ~hole~ that throw everything on the street (and there are some neighbors that do !) - between clearing the driveway, sidewalk and the walkway into the house....all the snow literally gets thrown on the entire front of the property. Which is not a issue except for these particular rows of boxwood.

In the places where I know extra dense snow will end up (for me under the edge of the roof where snow raked off the roof lands in heavy snow years) I plant caning shrubs that bloom on new wood like Hydrangea arborescens or one of the summer blooming spireas. If the shrub gets trashed, I cut it hard in the spring and it regrows in just a few weeks in spring. As Mad_gallica suggested, folding A frames are the most common solution around here.