Landscapes Suffering In Southern Colo. Drought

According to the National Weather Service, southern Colorado remains in a moderate to severe drought.

Experts say it is the dry conditions, warm temperatures and strong winds that are proving detrimental to plant growth.

?Last year was also a very dry year, so we?re coming into our second year of dry weather with above-average temperatures, low soil moisture, no snow cover; that?s really hard on plants,? said Barbara Bates, Horticulture Agent/County Director for Colorado State University Extension, El Paso County.

Bates recommends watering lawns and trees during the winter months when the temperature is above 40 degrees. Bates also recommends watering during the middle of the day, so the water can be absorbed before the freezing overnight temperature sets in. Bates cautions homeowners not to turn on irrigation systems, but to instead just water plants using the hose.

?You?re going to have to get the hoses out of the garage and put it on a slow soak to really get the moisture down deep,? said Bates.

If winter watering measures are neglected, Bates told KRDO Newschannel 13, the roots of the plants could die and the plants will become more susceptible to mites.

Bates also said landowners will most likely not see symptoms of dying plant roots, until it is too late.

?You?re not going to see those symptoms until spring growth starts and when the spring growth doesn?t kick in like it should or a month into that growth period when they?re just not taking off like they should, then you?re going to say, ?oh my gosh, I should have winter-watered.? So, you need to be doing that now, before you see the symptoms and take a preventative approach to it,? said Bates.

There is some snow in the forecast, but not enough to alleviate the current drought conditions. For your Stormtracker 13 Forecast click here.