Keep watering trees on a regular schedule through the fall and until the ground begins to freeze (usually late October or November). Once the ground freezes, continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the winter months.
Water trees even when dormant. Water about 5 gallons per trunk diameter inch. Stop watering when the ground freezes or temperatures dip below freezing.
During the fall and winter (October through March) water trees depending on weather, temperature, and soil conditions. You should water in the winter when it is above 40 degrees and when there is no snow cover.
To help your trees and other plants survive this dry year and prepare for the next, water them as long as you can in fall — into November if possible, or until the ground freezes. Long, slow watering is best. Give the water plenty of time to soak in.
It is best to slowly give any newly planted trees 10-15 gallons of water before putting the hose away for the winter and to supplement with 10-15 gallons of water during dry periods and when temperatures are above 40 degrees. Do not water when temperatures are near or below freezing.
Remember that winter temperatures, even when above freezing, are still cool enough that water evaporation into the air is happening much more slowly than it does in the growing season. Too much water in the soil can also encourage the growth of soil fungus and bacteria that aren't beneficial and can damage trees.
During a summer afternoon, up to half of the water can be lost to evaporation. The best time to water is in the morning or evening, so the roots have a chance to absorb most of the water.
Cold weather prep for plants in winter
Drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to cold damage, so watering plants a few days in advance of a cold snap is beneficial. Watering just before the freeze can help too by creating warmth, and the water loses its heat slowly over the hours into the colder temperatures.
In fall, plants do not need as much water as they may have needed in summer. But rather than stop watering altogether, it's best to wean them from weekly watering to every other week to monthly throughout fall.
Watering should take place every day for approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on the pressure in your system. Of course, if it rains that day, no watering is necessary. It is best to water in the evening or early morning when the sun isn't up.
Generally, the best time to prune or trim trees and shrubs is during the winter months. From November through March, most trees are dormant which makes it the ideal time for the following reasons: Trees are less susceptible to insects or disease.
Dormant trees do not require regular watering compared to the growing season. It would help if you watered your trees one or two times in a month when there is minimal snow coverage or none at all until they begin to leaf out during spring. If your area is very windy, your trees need more water.
This is to ensure all roots that extend beyond the canopy are accounted for. Most tree roots are in the upper 12 to 18 inches of the soil, which means this should be the target area when irrigating a tree. A sprinkler works best for mature tree watering.
Now a majority of arborists consider late September or October a great time to consider a fall fertilizer for trees and shrubs. They say to apply it then, or about a month after the first killing frost. Why? Because plants (including trees) will use the nutrients they need in different ways throughout the year.
The best time of year to cut down a tree would be during winter or early spring when the leaves have all fallen and the branches are free from them.
The leaves could change as early as August if an area has had a hot, dry summer. Some tree species, particularly oaks and beeches, keep their leaves much longer than other trees. But after the leaves reach their peak color, they fall off the tree about a week later.
The idea of using irrigation to help prevent frost is that the water that is sprayed in the fields freezes and releases heat to the air as the liquid water changes to ice. The goal is to keep the air temperature in the area at 32 F by adding heat in this process.
Provide supplemental water from October through March. Water only when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and there is no snow cover. Apply water at mid-day to give it time to soak in before the ground freezes at night.
For mature trees (>25 years), or those with a trunk more than 12″ (30 cm) in diameter, water deep and occasionally. About 10 gallons per 1 inch (2.5 cm) of trunk diameter per week (ex., a tree with 12″ DBH would receive 120 gallons) during drought.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
Soaker hoses are an efficient way to water trees because they're porous and release water slowly.
In terms of preventing an overwatered tree, mulch locks in the amount of moisture that the tree needs, though it isn't a total barrier when it comes to overwatering.