To water or not to water—that is the question in a gardener’s mind each fall.

Fall in the high country is typically a dry time.  Until the ground freezes in mid-October, your garden, shrubs, trees and lawn still need water.  Failure to keep your garden watered in the fall can lead to root damage that affects the health of the entire plant.  Trees and shrubs need adequate moisture stored in their roots to survive the winter.

If Mother Nature is not providing us with rain or snow, you should water once a week through the fall. Do not water if the air and soil temperatures are below 40 degrees F.  Try to water in the middle of the day so the water has time to soak in before freezing at night.  Remember to disconnect your hose after each use to prevent damage.  And once there is snow on the ground, you can put your hose away for the winter!