Winter watering in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — With the winter solstice came the official start to winter. It’s left many gardeners wondering about winter watering.

Hosts Maria Shilaos and Taun Beddes from the KSL Greenhouse show discuss tips for winter watering. 

 

“We were talking about earlier if you can grow Greens in the winter,” said Beddes. “If they don’t freeze, you can, but because there are short daily lanes, their growth rate will slow down to about 25% of what they would be doing say in March and April.”

Now that the winter solstice has passed, the days will start to get longer. Beddes said by late February growers will notice appreciable changes.

Winter watering in a dry season

Shilaos noted the lack of precipitation in Utah this season.

“So tell us, first of all, what things should we be concerned about? What should we be watering? Or at least checking to see if they need water,” she said.

Beddes said check anything planted within the last growing season.

“So if you planted anything from last spring and in the fall, they may need some supplemental water,” he said.

Beddes said it also depends a lot on the soil type and the bakery of your soil.

“Anything planted July, August September and into October will likely need supplemental irrigation,” he said. “And then conifers — we’re talking spruce, pines, junipers and arborvitae, are all very susceptible to dry soil.”

Plants less likely to need winter watering

Lawns go into dormancy during the winter months and do not require watering. Additionally well established perennials should be ok if their roots are not in dry soil.

“If it’s bone dry, the Roots can take damage,” said Beddes. “It’s not only just because of the dry soil, but dry soil, if it gets cold, can get very cold also because water acts as a heat buffer or a cold buffer … roots are hardy anywhere from 15 to 20 degrees at the most. And so a dry soil, if we got down into zero or sub-zero temperatures for an extended period … you see a lot of plant damage.”

The KSL Greenhouse Show airs Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Amie Schaeffer is a digital content producer for KSL NewsRadio. Follow her on X.