That's right folks! The weather patterns are officially messed up and we are having a winter drought here in Oregon. Standard master gardener advice for December includes the following: “During heavy rains, watch for drainage problems in the yard. Tilling, ditching, and French drains are possible short-term solutions. Consider rain gardens and bioswales as a longer-term solution." [From: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/calendar#december]
but I doubt anyone is having drainage problems this December!
Instead, let's look to advice given for Eastern Oregon, which is what is happening here in Portland and the Willamette Valley: "Central/eastern Oregon: Water your plants every 6 to 8 weeks with a deep soaking to prevent drying out."
Why is watering important? It helps protect plants from winter damage. this is particularly important for new trees and shrubs planted in the fall, which have not had a chance to redevelop their root system and are therefore more likely to suffer from winter damage.
According to OSU: "Winter drought-damaged plants are often so weak they do leaf out, but then may die. Others die from drought stress during the winter months. These plants may appear to have been killed by the cold, but more likely the cause is desiccation." [Snow or lack thereof - effects on landscape plants Accessed at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/snow-or-lack-thereof-effects-landscape-plants]
The master gardener January calendar states: Central/Eastern Oregon: To prevent winter damage from drying, water plants deeply every 6 to 8 weeks, when the temperatures are above freezing."
So don't bury the hose too deeply in the garage - you may need to get outside and water your plants! But don't leave the hoses out overnight and remember to re-winterize your hose bibs afterwards!
Best wishes
Erika
Also review
"Some plants make natural antifreeze to cope with winter’s wrath" at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/847
How to minimize winter cold damage to lawns at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/1021
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/heat2.html
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