Keep Watering Through Fall & Winter

It is important to keep hydrating your plants even after your irrigation system has been winterized.

We are out and about turning off irrigation systems in preparation for winter, but it’s important to remember that your plants will still need water throughout late fall and into winter! Proper hydration helps plants with root development and encourages them to flower and mature when growing season rolls back around. Even as plants go dormant during winter, you’ll need to keep up with watering them. With dry air, fluctuating temperatures, frigid wind, and low amounts of precipitation, winter watering is critical to avoid winter desiccation and for the survival and health of young trees, shrubs, and plants in your landscape.

Methods To Ensure Your Plants Stay Hydrated

The best approach to protecting plants from winter desiccation is to regularly monitor the moisture levels of the soil in your landscape and deeply water your trees and shrubs from October to March. It’s also important to monitor the weather conditions throughout the winter months and water during periods of extended dry weather. Below are tips on important winter watering techniques for your landscape:

Plants will not need to be watered as often as during the summer months but should be watered approximately one to two times per month (weather dependent).
Newly planted trees and shrubs need more water than other plant material that has been established for more than one year.
To determine if your plants need watering, use a metal rod or a screwdriver and probe the soil within the root zone of the plant. If the soil is moist, it should go into the soil easier than if the soil is dry. Also, when the probe is removed from the soil profile, the soil will be stuck to the probe if the soil is moist.
Water should be applied mid-day when air temperatures are above 40°F. Watering during this time of the day will allow water to soak into the soil profile before temperatures possibly drop back below freezing at night. Windy conditions will cause the soil to dry out faster, so frequent watering would be required at these times.
Completely soak the soil around the base of each plant. Avoid water runoff by sticking the end of the hose into the base of each plant. Water trees by turning the water on at a low trickle and placing the end of the hose in multiple spots within the dripline (located between the trunk and the extent of the end of the branches) and beyond if possible.
For turf, flowers, and shrubs, water should be applied to at least 6 to 8 inches deep; trees should be watered more deeply (approximately 12 inches deep). Turf should be watered about 6 inches deep from the top of the soil profile.
The length of time water should be applied to get the desired soaking depth varies as it greatly depends on water pressure and what watering method is used. Whether it’s by hose or by sprinkler, it could take upwards of 4 hours or more per watering application.
Hoses and attachments are the best pieces of equipment to use when watering during the winter months. Remember to remove all hoses and attachments from faucets after you’re done the watering and drain them completely. This safety measure will help to minimize freeze damage to equipment once freezing temperatures return. Do not turn on and use irrigation systems that have been winterized during the winter.

Another way to retain moisture in the soil is to mulch your landscape beds and install tree rings around the base of your trees. This will help keep the soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and will also help to conserve moisture levels in the soil throughout the year. Landscape beds and tree rings should be mulched up to 3 inches deep. For tree rings and any trees located in landscape beds, mulch should be pulled back approximately 6 inches from the base of the trunk of the tree to help to prevent the chances of harboring insects and diseases that could be detrimental to the life of the tree.

Topeka Landscape Is Here To Help!

Keep in mind that the seasons we experience in the Midwest can be very dry, and have prolonged periods of above or below average temperatures. The results these conditions can have on our landscapes can be devastating if not properly tended to. Help protect the beauty of the plants and turf in your landscape by providing them with the adequate amount of moisture needed for their healthy and prosperous growth.

All of the protection measures mentioned above can be done yourself, but our team is always here to help. If you have questions or concerns, give us a call at 785.232.8873 or email us, and let us help with your winter watering needs!