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Snowfall to Meltwater Ratio

A good rule of thumb for Colorado is 1 foot of snow = 1 inch of ground soak. Commonly, the percentage of water to snow, called the "snow ratio”, was that for every 10 inches of snow, there would be 1 inch of water (10:1). However, it’s difficult to accurately amagomize weather patterns, so recent studies indicate that a 12:1 ratio might be more representative. If heavy snowfall exists with tightly packed crystals 8:1 might be indicated. The takeaway being, unless snowfall is high and often, definitely soak your roots over winter. You can refer to the suggestions below for a starting point.

 

How I Winter Water My Trees

 
 
 

More Specifically

Trees

Shrubs

Xeriscape

Winter Watering
How Often Typically, in between snows, it is good to water trees every 7-10 days or once or twice a month . This is a general estimate and will depend on unique microclimate, soil, weather, and other conditions. Generally, the warmer and drier t

How Often

Typically, in between snows, it is good to water trees every 7-10 days or once or twice a month. This is a general estimate and will depend on unique microclimate, soil, weather, and other conditions. Generally, the warmer and drier the weather, the more often watering is needed.

Temperature

Choose a warm winter day when air temperature is at or above 40 degrees F during the day, and soil is relatively unfrozen so water can soak in.

Water at mid-day so it can soak in before air temps freeze again overnight.

How Much or How Long

Let the hose run on low and soak in. Imagine you are soaking a large pot in the ground that the rootball would fit in. Depending on the size of the tree, and the rate of water flow, this might be 15-20 mins or it might be up to 1 hour.

Or fill buckets with water. Depending on the size and species requirements of the tree, you might choose to soak it with between 2-5 gallon buckets per tree— like the orange buckets from Home Depot.

Again, this is a general estimate. If you would like more specific confirmation, such as species-specific requirements, please check with a local grower or nursery specialist.

Drip Line

Ideally, you might choose to move the hose around at intervals to water in a circle around the “drip line” of the tree. The drip line is a circle on the ground that mirrors the edge of how far out the branches and the root tips both reach— it is where the rain drips from the leaves to soak the roots in the ground. This circle is where the new roots grow.

When To Water

Water throughout the winter, any time the snows are not heavy or it is dry for several consecutive weeks.

It is most critical to water in March and April when the new roots are forming.

If It Snows

If recent snow has moistened the soil deeply, you can wait a couple weeks to water again. However, if the snow is less than a couple inches, or just a dusting, it may not be sufficient to soak the roots. In this case your supplemental winter watering will help.

Specific Questions? Refer To A Specialist

For confirmation about the needs of your specific species of tree, age, health, location, soil, weather, or other details, please contact a tree nursery specialist, such as Creekside Tree Nursery.

How Often Typically, in between snows, it is good to water shrubs every 7-10 days or once or twice a month. This is a general estimate and will depend on unique microclimate, soil, weather, and other conditions. Generally, the warmer and drie

How Often

Typically, in between snows, it is good to water shrubs every 7-10 days or once or twice a month. This is a general estimate and will depend on unique microclimate, soil, weather, and other conditions. Generally, the warmer and drier the weather, the more often watering is needed.

Temperature

Choose a warm winter day when air temperature is at or above 40 degrees F during the day, and soil is relatively unfrozen.

Water at mid-day so it can soak in before air temps freeze again overnight.

How Long

Let the hose run on low and soak in. Imagine you are soaking a large pot in the ground that the rootball would fit in. Depending on the size of the shrub, flower, or ground cover, and the rate of water flow, this might be 3-5, maybe 10 mins, or it might be up to 45 mins.

Or fill buckets with water. You might choose to soak a Karl Forester Grass (as in the picture above) or similar size shrub with one 5 gallon bucket per shrub— like the orange buckets from Home Depot.

Again, this is a general estimate. If you would like more specific confirmation, please check with a local grower or nursery specialist.

Drip Line

For larger shrubs, ideally, you might choose to move the hose around at intervals to water in a circle around the “drip line” of the shrub. The drip line is a circle on the ground that mirrors the edge of how far out the branches and the root tips both reach— it is where the rain drips from the leaves to soak the roots in the ground. This circle is where the new roots grow.

When To Water

Water throughout the winter, any time the snows are not heavy or it is dry for several consecutive weeks.

It is most critical to water in March and April when the new roots are forming.

If It Snows

If recent snow has moistened the soil deeply, you can wait a couple weeks to water again. However, if the snow is less than a couple inches, or just a dusting, it may not be sufficient to soak the roots. In this case your supplemental winter watering will help.

Specific Questions? Refer To A Specialist

For confirmation about the needs of your specific species of shrub, flower, or ground cover, age, health, location, soil, weather, or other details, please contact a local grower or plant nursery specialist, such as The Flower Bin.

How Often Typically, it is good to water xeriscape plants, flowers, or ground cover every 7-10 days or once or twice a month . This is a general estimate. Generally, the warmer and drier the weather, the more often watering is needed. Xerisc

How Often

Typically, it is good to water xeriscape plants, flowers, or ground cover every 7-10 days or once or twice a month. This is a general estimate. Generally, the warmer and drier the weather, the more often watering is needed.

Xeriscape refers to a plant’s native climate, not necessarily to low water use, though that often goes hand in hand in alpine areas. Your garden is a unique microclimate different from wild alpine areas where similar plants have established themselves within an integrated ecosystem. Therefore, while some gardens will require less water than others, all xeriscape gardens require some water.

Temperature

Choose a warm winter day when air temperature is at or above 40 degrees F during the day, and soil is relatively unfrozen.

Water at mid-day so it can soak in before air temps freeze again overnight.

How Long

Let the hose run on low and soak in. Imagine you are soaking a large pot in the ground that the rootball would fit in. Depending on the size of the shrub, flower, or ground cover, and the rate of water flow, this might be 3-5 mins, maybe 10 mins, or it might be up to 45 mins.

Or fill buckets with water. You might choose to soak a Cotoneaster (as in the picture above) or similar size shrub with one 5 gallon bucket per shrub— like the orange buckets from Home Depot.

Again, this is a general estimate. If you would like more specific confirmation, please check with a local grower or nursery specialist.

Drip Line

For larger shrubs, ideally, you might choose to move the hose around at intervals to water in a circle around the “drip line” of the shrub. The drip line is a circle on the ground that mirrors the edge of how far out the branches and the root tips both reach— it is where the rain drips from the leaves to soak the roots in the ground. This circle is where the new roots grow.

When To Water

Water throughout the winter, any time the snows are not heavy or it is dry for several consecutive weeks.

It is most critical to water in March and April when the new roots are forming.

If It Snows

If recent snow has moistened the soil deeply, you can wait a couple weeks to water again. However, if the snow is less than a couple inches, or just a dusting, it may not be sufficient to soak the roots. In this case your supplemental winter watering will help.

Specific Questions? Refer To A Specialist

For confirmation about the needs of your specific xeric species of shrub, flower, or ground cover, age, health, location, soil, weather, or other details, please contact a local grower or plant nursery specialist, such as Harlequin’s Gardens.

Local or Collaborative Resources

Here Are A Few Links for Further Questions or Specialty Care

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT WE REFERRED YOU

 

  • The Green Spot

    Local WHOLESALE tree, shrub, and flower nursery. Click the link above to learn more directly.

  • The Flower Bin

    Local PUBLIC shrub and flower nursery. Click the link above to learn more directly.

  • Oaklyn Knoll

    Small Local Arborist and Tree Care specialist: Owner, Jaclyn Salts. Click the link above for a paid consult.

 
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√ Please View our Terms and Conditions for details.

√ Eco Gardens By Rebecca (aka Rebecca’s Gardens + Design) offers experienced local garden planning and landscape design services, and may provide basic education through conversation, text, email, website, audio or video, or live gardening sessions or courses, in service of DIY education.

√ It is a client’s responsibility to care for and be educated about the basic needs and requirements of the trees, shrubs, and plant life on their property, or their choices for a referral to a specialist who can provide the required care or services. We believe that you have a relationship with your landscape the way you would with yourself or anyone, meaning that it grows, develops, and changes as you do. In service of this, please always use your own intuition and feel free to consult more than one expert to ‘triangulate’ collective wisdom and help discern for yourself what works best for you and how you would like to care for your landscape.

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√ We are collaborative with our wisdom and as such we are happy to refer you to any recommended third party specialist who may work with installation, maintenance, irrigation, arborism, or more specific plant care such as but not limited to ecology, pollination, pest control, soil health, water or microclimate management, or other requirements.

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