By Eri Matsumura
This has been an exceptionally dry winter after another warm fall. The lack of meaningful precipitation has been disappointing, and now it seems all the snow days we should be getting have been replaced by high wind warnings. It’s been arid, dusty, and bleak. But we must not give into the urge to hole up and hibernate, our plants need us!
With a warm and dry winter, our trees, shrubs, perennial beds, and lawn need extra attention and care to survive until spring. In a normal Colorado winter, your plants in the garden can survive the cold insulated under blankets of snow. In typical years it has been recommended to water once a month. This helps the roots stay hydrated and insulated against frost. This year, it is recommended that community members are watering at least twice a month, or every ten days without precipitation.
How to Winter Water
First, only water when the air and soil temperature is 40 degrees or warmer, and water earlier in the day so it can soak in before the freezing nighttime temperatures.
For trees and shrubs, water at their “drip line,” this is marked by the outermost circumference of the tree branches and the shrub foliage. This is the key area to water because this is where the plant’s most important water absorption feeder roots are. For shrubs, the drip line is going to be closer to the plant than for trees, but remember to not water just at the base. This also applies for perennials, and keep in mind that if plants were planted in the fall they will need water closer to their base, as the rootball has not expanded past the canopy yet.
A slow and deep soak is essential to ensure the water is penetrating deep into the soil, reaching the roots and not running off. This can be achieved by leaving your hose on a slow drip, using a soaker hose or even filling up a cooler with a drain nozzle slightly opened. Never water on top of snow or frozen ground, and do not use your irrigation system, which should remain off to prevent freezing and breaking the equipment. Afterwards, remember to unhook and drain all hoses from the spigots.
When we do get snow, you can shovel clean snow from your driveway and sidewalks and dump it along the drip line (stay away from the tree trunks) and the snow will insulate the roots and water the plant as it melts.
Other Care Tips
Maintain the mulch around trees and other plants. With the frequent winds, mulch can blow off and thin out. Check and make sure the mulch remains around 2-4 inches thick and keep the piles pulled back from the trunk and stems of plants to prevent rot. Maintaining the mulch will protect the roots and helps with water retention in the soil.
For plants that may have broken dormancy during warm spells, do not pinch off, prune or fertilize. Keep up with watering and pay attention to any tender growth that may need to be protected when a hard freeze arrives. No need to panic if you see your bulbs put up a couple inches of green growth, especially with daffodils, snowdrops, and crocus. Most spring blooming bulbs have natural antifreeze compounds within the leaves that will help them survive the cold. Seeing a little bit of growth on your plants doesn’t mean they think it is spring, most bulbs and perennials are adaptable, and can recover on their own, putting out new growth even if the initial growth appears wilted. Be patient, don’t rush to remove any damaged growth, it’s best to leave the plant alone and assess damages when spring arrives.
With Colorado experiencing its warmest and driest winter on record, it is important to support our plants with extra water and care. Paying attention to winter watering needs in your garden will help plants survive the winter and have a successful start to spring. In the meantime, has anyone tried the superstition of flushing ice cubes down the toilet or am I the only one going to bed with inside out pjs hoping for a snow day?
Originally published on January 29th, 2026.