Poor man’s fertilizer was usually considered to be a late spring snow.

The snow protects new shoots, allows slow decomposition of organic
matter under the mantle of snow, and permits nutrients to slowly leach
into the soil because of the slow melt rate.

"Be thankful if there is snow cover, often called "the poor
man's fertilizer", as snow protects the crowns of perennials
from heaving, and prevents any covered foliage from drying
in the winter's coldest winds."
-------------------------------------------

. . . . and don’t forget to make hay while the sun shines!