Winter Watering
We can’t stop watering just because December is here and winter is on its way. Plants in the ground – especially newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials – need the equivalent of one inch of precipitation per month. If we have a dry period that lasts longer than two to three weeks, you’ll need to water according to these guidelines when the ground is not frozen:
- Water during the day when temperatures are at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit to allow water to percolate through the soil.
- Finish watering before 3:00 p.m. so water can drain away from the surface before sunset.
- Water the soil around the plants, avoiding the trunk and crown of the plants. You can use an oscillating hose sprinkler for larger areas or open end hose with the water turned on low for smaller areas.
- For potted plants, assuming they are in a quality frost-resistant black clay pot and have well drained potting soil, water approximately every two weeks.
- Be sure to thoroughly drain your hoses and store them inside your garage or shed so they will be easy to access and use.
- We recommend using Cloud Cover, burlap, and mulches to help protect your plants through our cold and dry winter.
Click here for a printable version of our Winter Watering Guide, and remember, do not water when the ground is frozen. If you have any questions, stop by any one of our three Moana Nursery garden centers.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 10:26 pm and is filed under Gardening, Landscaping, Organic & Green, Soil, Watering, Winter Gardening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Brad says:
Hello and thanks for the tips. What about lawns during the prolonged dry spell?
Thanks,
Brad
admin says:
Brad: Thanks for the good question on lawn or turf. During a long winter dry spell we focus on trees, shrubs and perennials first as they are most vulnerable; but, with the prolonged dry spell we are experiencing, even our hardy lawns are being tested. We recommend two twenty minute soakings … with time in-between to let the water soak into the grass roots. One month of no precipitation should be the trigger for even lawns to be hydrated. It is even more acute when the temperature is warm, like today. Bruce
William says:
What about Leland Cypryus, 6 months old with yellowing tips wintering in cold air temperatures? Water? Don’t Water?
admin says:
William: Yellowing tips can be normal or a problem for this plant particularly … are they crispy? If so, watering is called for and it may be too late. If you have not watered this very dry winter, especially if not since your irrigation system was turned off, water may be the culprit … especially for the newly planted. Here is our most common question in the high desert …”How Much Water???
The answer to that question is … you need to water enough to keep the soil evenly moist. With our warm and windy weather and especially for new plantings, that may mean every day but probably not. Until you get a good feel for how much water your plants need, the best thing to do is to gently poke around the soil just below the surface and adjacent to the root ball. The soil just outside the root ball should be moist but not wet. If you were to grab a handful it would clump together when squeezed but not drip any water. Factors such as sun exposure, wind, soil conditions and your irrigation method will all influence the water frequency needed. Eventually infrequent but deep watering will keep your plants healthy but until they develop an established root system you will need to monitor them closely.”
Hope this helps. Bruce