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watering in winter?
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Posted by zachslc 5/6 (My Page) on Sun, Jan 7, 07 at 16:26
| Do you water your perennials in the winter? When I read a lot of western/low-water/xeriscape gardening boks and magazines I get the impression that one should, but a lot of these magazines and books seem to be targeted more toward climates with less snow. Anyone? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: watering in winter?
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| I've never watered in winter, even if it is a dry winter. |
RE: watering in winter?
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Mother nature does the watering for us... in the form of that white stuff all over my yard.
If ya don't have any and would like some, I would be glad to box some up from my kids "ski jump" & send it to ya! :-) Seriously.....
Most plants are "smart" enough to go dormant during the winter.
It is kind of like trying to give water to a person that is asleep... They just don't need it.... but if they do, mother nature is usually kind enough to leave a glass or two of ice water near the bed. They have enough energy stored to get them through winter AND to burst forth in the spring. I think that the article you were reading is for more tropical zones like the lower part of Florida. In Southern CA, the watering in the winter comes from Mother Nature. |
RE: watering in winter?
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| Well, I've ready in several places that one of the dangers of cold winters is that the ground might get too dry while its frozen. I just like to make sure my soil is moist in October and November before the snow comes and the ground freezes. If we had a really dry winter, I would get the hose out and take care of some recent plantings or very young trees and shrubs. This is especially important for evergreen trees and shrubs that are still photosynthesizing during winter. A few weeks ago, I did get out a rake and broom and move some of the snow from my grass to the base of my rose hedge that's next to the lawn. I piled it up around the base of the roses for two reasons: to make it less likely their roots will thaw and then freeze again (which is the main winter killer of plants), and to make sure they have enough moisture if that snow gets a chance to melt. |
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