QUESTION: Should Plants be Watered in Winter?

Yes. Plants need irrigation even in dormancy. If plants were installed in late fall, their roots are still establishing so water is vital.

If the temperature is above freezing, the soil is soft and water will permeate down into the root zone. Root hairs take up dissolved minerals in ground water -- through osmosis -- and transport the nourishment up through the stem to the buds and leaves. Root hairs also take up Oxygen in the ground through openings between soil particles. Though photosynthesis slows in winter, the process is ongoing.

And, if there was a drought in summer or fall, plants are "short on water," so winter irrigation is essential for a plant's health.