Fall Shrub Watering - Ask Extension
Hi - we planted a mix of foundation shrubs - barberry, junipers, arbos, hydrangea, pine, - in May/June and a viburnum hedge in July or August. I've ...
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Fall Shrub Watering #922199
Asked November 20, 2025, 9:48 AM EST
Hi - we planted a mix of foundation shrubs - barberry, junipers, arbos, hydrangea, pine, - in May/June and a viburnum hedge in July or August. I've been following the watering guidelines and know that watering is good up until the ground freezes. But when is that, exactly, and how do you tell. Once leaves drop can it be discontinued? How much longer do I need to water the evergreens? Thanks.
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
What you put water on the ground and it runs off instead of sinking in, the ground is frozen and you can stop watering. Or when you try to push something like a screwdriver blade into the soil and it is hard to do so, the ground is frozen and you can stop watering.
OK thanks. But what about shrubs that have dropped their leaves? Is the idea to keep up a moisture level in the ground or do roots need water through dormancy?
JK
From: ask=<personal data hidden> on behalf of Ask Extension
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2025 9:28 AM
To: jkoloc
Subject: Re: Fall Shrub Watering (#0192115)
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2025 9:28 AM
To: jkoloc
Subject: Re: Fall Shrub Watering (#0192115)
If the ground is frozen water is not moving through the soil. The idea is to put as much moisture in the ground as possible before the ground freezes. Then the plant can store it up while dormant. When the plant is dormant, it is not taking up much or any additional moisture.
You may want to explore putting protection, fabric or spray, on the evergreens to keep the needles moist in winter, but they usually survive on their own. See these web pages.
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-11-10-getting-trees-and-shrubs-ready-winter#:~:text=To%20prevent%20desiccation%2C%20you%20can:%20*%20Ensure,piling%20mulch%20up%20on%20the%20plant's%20trunk
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/environmental/winter-injury/desiccation-or-winter-burn#:~:text=1.,than%20an%20inch%20per%20week.
You may want to explore putting protection, fabric or spray, on the evergreens to keep the needles moist in winter, but they usually survive on their own. See these web pages.
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-11-10-getting-trees-and-shrubs-ready-winter#:~:text=To%20prevent%20desiccation%2C%20you%20can:%20*%20Ensure,piling%20mulch%20up%20on%20the%20plant's%20trunk
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/insects-pests-and-problems/environmental/winter-injury/desiccation-or-winter-burn#:~:text=1.,than%20an%20inch%20per%20week.
