Watering Plants in the Winter

I always used to wonder if I should water plants in the winter. It's freezing, but the plants are still alive, so what should I do? Do I actually go out and water my plants in the winter?

The easy answer is YES, you should water your plants in the winter!

You don't have to water as much as you do during a summer drought or anything, but you definitely don't want your plants to totally dry out. You can water your plants any time the weather is above freezing, preferable above 40 or so. If the weather drops to freezing after you water, that's ok, it won't hurt the plants, but you don't want to water when it's freezing.

A good soaking every two to four weeks should do it. You want to make sure that your water gets down about 6" in the soil each time you water. That's typically about a half an inch to an inch of water. To measure that, place cups or bowls down where you are watering and water until you fill them to that depth. A slow, steady water is always best, no matter what time of year it is.

Obviously, if you are getting a lot of rain or snow, you don't need to worry about watering. Long story short, you are good for this January so far!

It's important to water all of your plants, but it's especially important to water any newly planted trees or shrubs, or any plants that are particularly exposed to wind or sun. Pay attention to any evergreen trees, as they are the most susceptible to winter droughts.

Don't forget after watering to take your hose off of the spigot. You don't want the hose to freeze and burst! If you have an automatic sprinkler system, make sure you aren't using it. You should have that winterized by a professional each October or so.

Have any more questions about winter watering? Just reach out to us, we are happy to help!