Northern Nevada winters are known for cold, dry air, little precipitation and wide outdoor temperature swings, which can cause damage to your trees. The need for winter watering may not be obvious, but trees need water during these dry spells to stay healthy.

Follow these easy tips that can help your trees survive the next couple of months, and thrive when the weather warms.

• If your trees have not received water from Mother Nature for two to four weeks, it is time to provide some supplemental watering with a hose. Make sure you water when temperatures are above 40 degrees and early enough in the day that the water will not freeze, which can cause damage to the tree.
• Use a soaker hose to encircle the tree midway between its trunk and midline. Apply some water and then move the hose outward toward the drip line.
• Do not spray tree trunks with water in order to reduce the risk of frost injuries or winter burn.
• Help keep moisture in soil and regulate soil temperature by putting a three to four inch deep layer of organic mulch around your tree.
• Heavy snow on tree limbs should be removed to avoid breakage.
• If winter has a particularly warm day, consider deep root watering to break up the soil. Avoid fertilizing before spring, which can prematurely wake up the tree’s roots.

Maintaining the health of your trees, and keeping them adequately watered, is important year-round.