Are You Winter Watering? Keeping Your Garden at its Best During Colorado’s Cold Months.
Are you winter watering? Many homeowners forget this important step to keep a healthy landscape, a mistake that could mean the worst for your plants!
With Colorado’s dry and arid climate it is crucial to provide supplemental water to your trees, shrubs, lawns, and beds during the winter, especially when there is little or no snow cover. The lack of moisture can cause damag
e to the root systems which can result in health problems or even plant death.
Most plants only need watered one to two times per month in the winter season. Only water when the soil and air temperatures are at least 40° with no snow cover on the ground. Be sure to water at mid-day to ensure water has time to soak into the soil before possible freezing in the evening. Always remember to disconnect and drain your hose to prevent freezing damage – do not use your sprinkler unless advised otherwise by your gardener or landscaper.
Perennial beds and herbaceous ground covers are more vulnerable to ground freezing and thawing, creating cracks which expose the root systems to more severe drying. Winter watering and mulching help to curb dehydration, fill the ground cracks, and prevent plant damage.
Don’t forget about your lawns! Areas that are exposed to wind and/or southwest winter-sunlight dry out more rapidly than those in the shade, especially your young sod and seed lawns. Winter water your lawns to prevent root damage and to boost your Spring and Summer success!
One more tip in keeping those more delicate plants healthy is using WILT-PRUF Plant Protector. It guards against moisture loss and protects valuable shrubs from winter kill, drought and winds that will pull all the moisture out of the plant. WILT-PRUF acts as a protective coating, holding in moisture on plant foliage and stems, substantially reducing water loss during winter months. This should be applied monthly for those more delicate plants.
Contact Personal Touch Gardening for assistance on all your landscape needs during the winter months or for more information on winter watering. Happy growing!
Sources: Colorado State University – http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1751.html, http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1706.htmlhttp://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Garden/wintwatr.htm
City of Boulder – http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3856&Itemid=1470#FALL
Garden Centers of Colorado – http://www.gardencentersofcolorado.org/pdfs/care_sheets/Winter_Watering_In_CO.pdf
