The Importance of Watering Your Landscape During Winter

Watering your landscape during winter may seem counterintuitive, but it is actually very important for the health and survival of your landscape. For those of us that live in a Southern climate, it is still critical to keep proper moisture balance in the soil so that those plants have the best chance to survive freezing temperatures.

One of the main reasons to water your landscape during winter is to prevent drought stress. While it may sound strange to talk about drought in the winter, the dry air and low humidity of winter will rob your landscape of valuable moisture the same as hot and dry Summer temperatures will. Watering during the Winter months will protect your plants from drought stress and give them a fighting chance to survive freezing temperatures.

Unlike Northern climates that receive regular snowfall during the Winter, Southern states may go years without seeing a single snowflake. That blanket of snow acts as an insulator for plant roots, so how do we protect plant roots from freezing temperatures without the fluffy white stuff? Simple; by providing moderate and regular water to your landscape, the moisture in the soil will expand around plants’ roots and protect them during a freeze.

Using your sprinkler system during Winter months is easy: if you have a smart controller with weather data capabilities or a rain freeze sensor, this will ensure your system isn’t running when it shouldn’t be (below 40 degrees F and/or when winds are above 20 MPH). If you don’t have a smart controller or rain freeze sensor you will need to adjust your controller manually. If you are unsure how to adjust your controller manually, give Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage & Lighting a call, and one of our technicians will assist you!

In addition to preventing drought stress and protecting your plants, watering your landscape during winter is equally important to maintain proper moisture balance in the soil around the perimeter of your home. Common shifting soil issues can easily be avoided by making sure there is not too much, or too little, water being introduced to your landscape.

In summary, keeping your sprinkler system turned on and properly adjusted for Winter conditions is critical for the health and survival of your plants. If you have any questions about watering your landscape during Winter or need assistance adjusting your sprinkler system’s controller, please give our Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage & Lighting team a call today!