Many gardeners question whether they should keep watering their plants when it is bitterly cold outside, and snow and ice have taken the place of bugs and grass. Winter watering is recommended in many locations, particularly if you have young plants just becoming established in your garden. For most gardens, winter plant watering is a required task.
Do Plants Require Water During the Winter?
Supplemental winter watering is essential if your location is not susceptible to heavy snowfall or is susceptible to drying winds. Even though your plants are dormant, they still have several essential metabolic processes that need to be powered by water from the soil. Perennial plants are susceptible to irreversible harm from roots drying out in the winter.
Many gardeners have fits when watering plants in cold weather because they fear freshly moist soil will freeze and harm the roots. The water you feed your plants may protect them against midnight freezes if you water early in the day. As night falls, the area around your plant continues to be a little warmer than the air, thanks to the water in the soil acting as a heat trap. This added warmth can shield your plants from harm when used with insulated covers.
Water for Plants During Winter
During their dormancy, your plants will not need as much water as they do in the spring and summer, but ensure thoroughly hydrate them a few times a month.
For optimal results, water trees and bigger landscaping perennials between the trunk and the drip line, while smaller plants may be watered around their crowns. Just watch out that the ground does not remain wet since this poses a major risk for root rot and suffocation in plants.
As a general guideline, when the soil seems dry to the touch, the temperature does not fall below 40 °F (4 °C); if possible, the wind is not blowing. The water you attempt to administer to the roots of your cherished plants may be significantly diminished by drying winds.
