Winter Care

The Ice-Cold Truth: Why You Can’t Stop Watering Evergreens in Winter

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Trickling water from a garden hose at the drip line of an evergreen tree in winter.

I walked past my neighbor’s yard yesterday and saw him putting his hose away in a storage bin like he was done for the year. I almost dropped my coffee. It is January 18, 2026, and if you think the “off-season” means you can ignore your landscape, you are in for a brown, crispy surprise … Read more

Put the Loppers Down: Why Most People Mess Up Dormant Pruning Every Winter

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A close-up of a proper pruning cut on a tree branch during winter dormancy.

Every January, I look out my window and see the same thing: my neighbor, Bill, out in his yard hacking away at his trees like he’s fighting off a swarm of bees. He’s got no plan, a pair of dull shears, and a look of misplaced confidence. By July, his trees look like they’ve been … Read more