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Tree

Surprised? Your trees also need to be watered even in winter since there is always a possibility that the area around it may be dry. Without enough water, your trees will dry out in mild winter. So, you should check the ground first to see whether it is frozen or not. When the ground is frozen, the water simply runs off so it is useless to water your trees.

Plants that are deprived of water during winter usually have a hard time recovering in the spring and most of them dry out. Conducting a simple moisture check is important since it can save your greens during a mild winter.

To check for soil moisture — insert a small spade, screw driver or shovel into the soil some distance away from the root ball area at a depth of 12 inches. Feel the soil, if it is sticky then there is enough moisture at the moment, however if it is feels crumbly you need to water the plant. To keep your trees well watered in winter consider the following tips:

Soak soil to a depth of about 12 inches and one foot beyond the edge of the branch canopy. This can be done once or twice a week depending on the type of soil you are dealing with. Let the soil dry out slightly before re-watering.

Allow the water to trickle slowly without running away from the trunk or the root ball area. For trees less than 1 year place the hose near the trunk since the roots are not widely spread out. Mature trees have widely spread roots so place the hose around the drip line and let the water soak slowly into the soil. Avoid watering late at night or early in the morning when the ground is frozen since water will not penetrate the ground.

Place finely chopped bark, wood chips or leaves around the tree trunk so as to insulate roots and prevent moisture loss.

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