Landworks Landscaping Company Advises To Water New Trees And Shrubs During A Dry Winter

A landscaping company like Landworks knows the weather can be unpredictable year-round, especially in the winter, when it may snow or rain a lot, or it may be a warmer winter season. When it’s a warmer winter, new trees and shrubs will need to be watered so that they will thrive during the spring growing season.

If a landscaping company has planted new trees within the last three years, be sure to keep them on a regular watering schedule. Newly planted trees haven’t had time to grow a large system of roots to absorb and store water, so they need frequent watering to make up for it.

Periodically check the soil between four to eight inches deep around your trees to check for moisture. If the soil feels dry or only slightly damp, give it a good soaking through the winter months.

Young trees, in particular, need the most attention to make sure roots get what waters they need to keep growing and keeping the upper branches alive through the coldest of the seasons. But, if the winter weather is super mild and the ground isn’t frozen, you can top your trees off with a bit more water if they need it.

Evergreens, especially, can get thirsty in the winter. That’s one of the reasons you’ll see brown needles on your evergreen in the winter, so put them at the top of your watering list.

Going into winter with dry roots can cause trouble for plants in spring. If the roots are damaged because they dried out in fall, they can’t absorb water in spring. Water stored in their roots supports early spring growth. If the reservoir is low, they can start out the year stressed by drought and never get over it. If you water nothing else, water evergreens and any trees and shrubs that were planted this year or last year.

Keep checking the soil to make sure it’s moist. Simply dig a small hole with a trowel and feel for moisture starting an inch or so below the surface. To water a tree, use a soaker hose or a watering bag or let the garden hose trickle slowly, which is how a landscaping company would do. That way, the water will dribble into the soil around the roots and be absorbed over time rather than running off the soil’s dry, hard surface.

Let the hose trickle for about 20 minutes in the drip zone — the area under a tree’s branches where major roots are. If you’ve already put the hose away, even four or five buckets of water will be a help. Pour the water out slowly so it soaks into the soil. A wide, even layer of mulch over the roots of a tree or shrub will help keep that precious moisture from evaporating during winter warm spells.

Landworks, an award-winning landscaping company, offers services from lawn sprinkler services, shrub trimming, landscape bed maintenance, landscape design services and much more. To contact Landworks, call (913) 422-9300 or email contact@landworks-inc.com.