My Colorado Friends, it has been a dry October and November. Its time to check the soil and give your trees, shrubs and perennials a drink of water if needed. Death by winter dehydration is a common issue and a costly and frustrating one. Use the guidelines below to assist you in determining if and how much to water. During the months of November through March, if four weeks elapse without snow cover, water plants and trees when temperatures are above freezing and the soil is not frozen. Water plants early in the day so the water can soak into the ground before freezing nighttime temperatures. Remember to disconnect and drain hoses after use. Dont activate sprinkler systems during the winter. Check the soil, and if you find little moisture at 8 to 12 inch depths where most tree roots are located, water one or two times per month from October through March, two times monthly for young trees and for evergreens. As a general survival rule, apply 10 gallons of water for each diameter inch of the tree. For example, a two-inch diameter tree needs 20 gallons per watering. Use a ruler to measure your tree’s diameter at 6 above ground level. Water underneath the branches within the circle bounded by the drip line. Water to a depth of 12 inches. Trees should receive ten gallons per inch of trunk diameter measured at knee height. Newly planted shrubs require more water than established shrubs that have been planted for at least one year. In dry winters, all shrubs benefit from winter watering from October through March. Apply 5 gallons two times per month for a newly planted shrub. Small established shrubs (less than 3 feet tall) should receive 5 gallons monthly. Large established shrubs (more than 6 feet) require 18 gallons on a monthly basis. Decrease amounts to account for precipitation. Water within the dripline of the shrub and around the base. For more information visit Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07211.html.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:03:59 +0000
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