Albuquerque Tree Winter Watering Strategies – Part Two

Trees stay dormant during the Albuquerque winter. That fact does not mean they are not subject to the tough dry and cold elements during the cold winter months. Albuquerque trees feel the natural stress brought on by severe weather in the winter. Your Albuquerque trees may not exhibit outward signs of this stress. The bottom line is most of the time the stress is caused by the fact that most trees receive little or no water during an Albuquerque winter from their owner. Going into the wintertime trees with dry root systems can result in danger for your trees come springtime. The weather outdoors may be dreary, dark and gray, and windy, but know this Albuquerque, your trees need watering before the ground freezes. Trees going through extended periods of time with little or no water will most likely develop compromised root networks and this fact alone can kill your trees. Come springtime your trees may look like they always do after a fall with no water, but later during the growing season of fall and summertime those trees my die, and you may not know why. Now, thank goodness you do.

Here is a selection of strategies to assist the trees on your Albuquerque property so they make it through the cold dry winter months and thrive the entire year.

How Should the Watering Be Accomplished?

Be sure to water in Albuquerque when the ambient air temperature is higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the soil around your trees has zero snow or ice. Be sure to water in the mid-morning. This will provide your plants sufficient time to absorb the water you have provided prior to outside ambient temperatures going down.

Trees are really big plants which requires special care. Because they are big plants, they prefer watering this done deep and slowly. Be aware that trees that have been planted recently, like early fall, need watering on a more frequent scheduled basis. Soil moisture around a tree can and should be checked each time before you water. Take a garden trowel and dig down into the soil around the tree to a 2” depth. Create a small trowel width trench of about 1 foot long. Touch the soil with your index finger to see if is wet or moist to the touch. If is moist, watering is not needed. Check for tree soil moisture twice a week throughout the winter. Anytime the soil is dry means it is time to water.

Water your tree from its base out to the edge of its root system. Mature trees root systems are usually as wide as the height of the tree. When watering your tree, water it with a soaker hose. Be sure to not allow the tree needles or leaves to get wet. If it freezes the night you watered the tree you are chancing harming the tree.

Albuquerque Trees Need Mulch for Insulation and Water Retention

Putting in mulch around the base of all your Albuquerque trees is a smart tactic that should be done before winter sets in and preferably during the springtime earlier in the year. It is also wise to add more mulch in the late fall to improve the bed of mulch that is already there. Mulch around your Albuquerque trees bases helps the soil the trees are planted in keep moisture in and it assists the soil temperature keeping it warmer during the wintertime.

Tree planting locations that are out in the open and more prone to the cold weather where ground  may freeze and thaw more often may experience cracking which can cause the tree’s roots to lose all their moisture. Installing mulch will provide a layer that can help keep this harm from happening.

It may not seem logical to pull out your soaker hose to water your trees when the weather is cold out but watering them is vital to your tree’s health and ongoing growth for years to come. Pay attention to your trees in the winter with regular watering based on the advice provided here. By continuing to water your trees during the winter you will see the fruits of your labor during the springtime when their leaves come out and they grow and continue to stay healthy and thrive.