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Your plants may be dormant or semi-dormant, but they aren’t dead. They still have some basic metabolic functions that rely on water and without adequate moisture, the root system will suffer.
If their roots dry out at any time of year, plants become stressed and they can’t take up the nutrients they need for healthy growth. When this happens in winter, your plants are even more susceptible to winter injury.
As long as you water early in the day when the temperature is at least 40°F and above, the water you give your plants will actually help protect them against frost.
Winter winds can be brutal, and they’re one of the main reasons some plants don’t make it through the season. When strong winds occur, they pull moisture out of the plant’s leaves faster than it can be replaced by the roots.
Wait until the temperature is at least 40°F and apply water from late morning to mid day so it has time to soak in before possibly freezing at night.
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