Amid this very dry winter, the plants and shrubs in your landscape need mosture to survive and thrive.
Did you know that it takes 12 inches of snow to equate to just an inch of water? This means that you can’t rely on the natural precipitation in winter to keep your plants alive. It’s extremely necessary to properly water your plantings to ensure healthy growth. Here are some tips to help out with winter watering:
- Newly planted vegetation needs supplemental water to stay alive. While they may seem healthy with no water or moisture, these same plants will typically wilt or die come the next spring.
- Broadleaf Evergreens (plants that keep their leaves all year) are the most important plants to keep watered because they perspire water through those leaves.
- A general rule of thumb is to use approximately 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter for each watering. Measure trunk diameter at knee height. General formula: Tree Diameter x 5 minutes (with hose at medium pressure) = Total Watering Time. Be sure to take into account the amount of precipitation. For young trees and evergreens, water them twice a month.
- Use a watering can or your standard garden hose, but be sure to winterize it immediately after use by disconnecting the hose.
