In general the plants are evergreen during winter ... it is not uncommon this time of year to see some yellow leaves near the base but remember to keep these plants on the dry side as winter moves in ... once a week for established plants is more then enough in winter here in Souther Nevada ( Sunset zone 11 ) ... if you just planted the plants watering ( a week or so ) will be a bit tricky since new roots need more frequent water but the plants don't like to stay wet ... try not planting near a lawn edge or anyplace where water will drain to underground they don't like to be wet ... be sure to really get out and pry into the root zone and confirm your water is really getting in and that it is time to water ... this is very important with new plantings in the desert.

Mature plants can sometimes loose many or even all the leaves ... wait till spring and remove dead stems if need or the plants can be pruned down to the base if they were hit hard and died back a lot.

They need nothing in the way of fertilizer out here in Southern Nevada. I do not know of any pest that bother these plants where I live...they do like a lighter ( more sand ) soil .. and do well with salts since there leaves excrete salt via salt glands ... there tuff as nails down here buy I manage several hundred in very heavy clay soil ... high in salts including Boron and Sodium ... when the heavy soils are wet and it is cold I have had many plants go into shock and loose leaves... quite a few have died.

Get the Sunset Western Gardening book if you have not done so already ... check out your local extension service for free expert information ... How high is your elavation ? Are you in Sunsets Zone 8 ?

Keep in touch ... we need more post by Mohave Gardeners.

Good Day ...