Nebraska Extension in Thurston County

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By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County (Week of December 6, 2021)

Now is the time to provide a last deep soaking of the soil prior to ground freeze. This ensures tree and shrub roots can take in the water necessary to stay hydrated, helping them to overwinter better and to arrive to spring in good condition. If you’re unsure about the dryness of you soil, the screwdriver test is the simplest way to determine moisture levels. Dry soils will resist your efforts to push the screwdriver into the soil, while a moist soil will be easily penetrated by a screwdriver.

In order of importance, these are the plants most in need of late fall watering: