When the leaves fall and the weather turns cold it can be hard to think about pulling out the watering hose, however Colorado often experiences dry winters which can leave your lawn, trees, and shrubs susceptible to damage and death.
Many people believe that the cold is your landscape’s biggest threat, but often it’s dehydration that kills your landscape especially if they are already stressed after the tight watering restrictions from the summer.
Colorado Climate
Colorado’s climate makes winter watering a must to ensure trees, shrubs, lawns, and even some plants stay healthy and aren’t injured by lack of water during the winter season. Successful winter watering depends on the plant, root depth, soil, weather patterns, temperature, and especially the timing and regularity.
Watering at the Right Time
Successful winter watering must be done above certain temperatures and early enough in the day that the water has time to soak into the roots before temperatures drop.
Winter Watering of New Plants
New plants are more suscptible to winter drought injury. Water trees, shrubs, perennials during dry fall and winter periods to prevent root damage. Water plant material every 2 weeks to below requirements when air tempratures are above 40 degrees with no snow cover.
Winter Watering Guide
The following guide will provide you with a few tips and tricks for winter watering and ensure that you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful and healthy landscape in the spring:
Water only when the air and soil temperature are above 40 degrees with no snow cover.
Apply water midday to allow it to soak in completely before freezing temperatures settle in at night.
Water more frequently in south and west facing areas and windy areas prone to drying.
Lawns and warm exposure areas are more prone to mites. Providing plenty of water is the best treatment for turf damage.
Monitor the snow fall and extended dry spells. Water plants one to two times per month.
Use sprinklers, deep-root fork needle, soaker hose, or a soft spray wand for deep watering.
Water trees all around the natural drip line at a rate of 10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter.