TechNotes Tips - Moisture Archive

Moisture needs to be present in turf and root zones going into the winter. With the dry spring and fall for parts of the Midwestern United States, soil moisture levels could be low. Moisture needs to be present in the soils to help protect root systems from cold winter weather. When moisture is present in the soil, frost is able to form. During winter periods consisting of freezing temperatures, moisture begins to freeze in the soil forming frost. If temperatures persist below freezing, frost continues to form deeper and deeper in the soil profile. From a plant root perspective, this is good. Once frost forms, the temperature of the soil remains constant. However, if moisture is not present and little if any frost forms during cold periods, the root systems of herbaceous plants are exposed to fluctuating temperatures that can be extremely cold (colder than if frost zone is present). Thus, plants should be provided with adequate moisture.

When leaves on trees are beginning to turn color rather prematurely, it is in large part due to lack of soil moisture. If conditions have been dry in your area, encourage customers to continue watering their trees until soaking rains occur.