Watering seedlings in degree12/10/2023 ![]() Bare root plants require longer to establish than container plants. Herbaceous perennial establishment periods vary. ![]() Water within the dripline of the shrub and around the base. Decrease amounts to account for precipitation. Large established shrubs (more than 6 feet) require 18 gallons on a monthly basis. Small established shrubs (less than 3 feet tall) should receive 5 gallons monthly. Apply 5 gallons two times per month for a newly planted shrub. In dry winters, all shrubs benefit from winter watering from October through March. The following recommendations assume shrubs are mulched to retain moisture. Newly planted shrubs require more water than established shrubs that have been planted for at least one year. Use a ruler to measure your tree’s diameter at 6″ above ground level. For example, a two-inch diameter tree needs 20 gallons per watering. As a general survival rule, apply 10 gallons of water for each diameter inch of the tree. If using a deep-root fork or needle, insert no deeper than 8 inches into the soil. Apply water to many locations under the dripline and beyond if possible. Methods of watering trees include: sprinklers, deep-root fork or needle, soaker hose or soft spray wand. Trees obtain water best when it is allowed to soak into the soil slowly to a depth of 12 inches. For example, a two inch diameter (caliper) tree takes a minimum of two years to establish under normal conditions. Trees generally take one year to establish for each inch of trunk diameter. Newly planted trees are most susceptible to winter drought injury. Monitor weather conditions and water during extended dry periods without snow cover – one to two times per month. Water is the best treatment to prevent turf injury (see fact sheet 5.505, Clover and Other Mites of Turfgrass.) Lawns in warm exposures are prone to late winter mite damage. Windy sites result in faster drying of sod and plants and require additional water. ![]() The low angle of winter sun makes this more likely on south or west exposures. Plants receiving reflected heat from buildings, walls and fences are more subject to damage. A solid layer (persisting for more than a month) of ice on lawns can cause suffocation or result in matting of the grass. Apply water at mid-day so it will have time to soak in before possible freezing at night. Water only when air temperatures are above 40 degrees F. Susceptibility increases for lawns with south or west exposures. Newly established lawns, whether seeded or sodded, are especially susceptible. Winter watering combined with mulching can prevent this damage (See fact sheet 7.214, Mulches for Home Grounds.) This opens cracks in soil that expose roots to cold and drying. Herbaceous perennials and ground covers in exposed sites are more subject to winter freezing and thawing. Woody plants also benefit from mulch to conserve soil moisture. Evergreen plants that benefit include spruce, fir, arborvitae, yew, Oregon grape-holly, boxwood, and Manhattan euonymus. ![]() These include European white and paper birches Norway, silver, red, Rocky Mountain and hybrid maples lindens, alders, hornbeams, dogwoods, willows, and mountain ashes. Woody plants with shallow root systems require supplemental watering during extended dry fall and winter periods. Weakened plants also may be subject to insect and disease problems. Plants may be weakened and all or parts may die in late spring or summer when temperatures rise. Affected plants may appear perfectly normal and resume growth in the spring using stored food energy. The result of long, dry periods during fall and winter is injury or death to parts of plant root systems. Trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns under these conditions may be damaged if they do not receive supplemental water. Often there is little or no snow cover to provide soil moisture from October through March. Apply water to the most critical part of the root zone within the dripline.ĭry air, low precipitation, little soil moisture, and fluctuating temperatures are characteristics of fall and winter in many areas of Colorado. Established large trees have a root spread equal to or greater than the height of the tree.Water only when air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees F with no snow cover.Water trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennials during prolonged dry fall and winter periods to prevent root damage that affects the health of the entire plant.
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