Plants need to receive proper lighting, water and fertilizer to grow throughout months where we typically do not get long days due to the time of the year (fall and winter). Plant the container as early as possible in order to allow plants to harden off. Prepare for sudden cold snaps in the spring the same as you do for fall and winter frosts by watering dry plants and trees 24 hours before the frost. Too much, and the soil is soggy and the plants grow week, too little and they can die or produce poor crops. The garage never goes below 32 degrees but tends to hover in the 40’s and low 50’s all winter. The low humidity is a contributing factor to why some are unsuccessful as well. Make sure your garden and landscape plants are suited to the average minimum temperatures in your area. A good soaking every 2 weeks should be sufficient for cacti of all varieties. Your reduced watering schedule should last until you begin to see new growth on your plants in the spring. Check your plants and the soil daily to determine whether you plants need more water. It's also important to make sure you provide optimal growing conditions, especially if you want your plant to bloom again next winter or become a permanent member of your outdoor garden. However, many perennial plants such as roses, peonies, and hibiscus can also be grown outdoors in containers and kept alive through winter. Of course, dry soil and winter is sort of an oxymoron (only possible if your plants are in a covered area). To property owners who pride themselves on their lush lawn and garden, winter may seem like a well-deserved breather. Check with your local garden center or extension service if you're not sure. Things don't grow much when the weather is cold, therefore they require water less often than in the high-energy warm months. Considerations. While young seedlings may not use a lot of water, as your plants grow their water needs increase. Don’t water landscape cactus at all from mid November through February. Maintaining a healthy balance when irrigating your garden is essential to thriving plants. To choose the best time for watering the garden, try to water in the morning when the sun is not too hot, so that the water can soak into the soil without evaporating first. One trick: Select container plants … So, winter is also when it is most important that your soil has excellent drainage.. In winter, dry conditions can actually be more damaging than the cold itself. Once established, watering once a week, even less in winter, will work well for most desert trees and shrubs. If plants are healthy and go into winter with mature roots, they have a much better chance to harden off and, as a result, will tolerate winter stress much better. If you can’t in the morning, aim to water after 4 pm, so that the sun won’t burn the plant’s leaves if they get wet. This is especially true for evergreens, as water evaporates quickly from their foliage. Winter has drying winds, however, that can quickly dry out the soil, making the plants vulnerable to cold damage. (See the Cold Protection page for more tips.) Cold winter air is usually quite dry, and winter winds can remove water from plants faster than the roots can absorb it. Cacti need water even less often than a typical desert tree or shrub. This keeps the plant dormant but the plants never freeze. In winter once a week on average should be sufficient. As cooler weather sets in, grasses require far less water than during the summer months. Outdoor container gardens typically involve annual plant species that are discarded come late fall and replaced with new plants each spring. Here are 10 steps to ensure you water your garden just right without any wastage. 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