IT'S RAINING!

Hello! It's raining! That's VERY wonderful for your garden.
At this time of year your plants need to soak up enough water to get them through the winter. This is especially true of your broad-leaf, evergreen shrubs. All winter long they will be stressed by sun, wind, snow and extreme temperataures. During this time of stress they will be losing moisture through their leaves. In order to keep them healthy and have the ability to stand up to this desiccating horror, they need to have a lot of water fed to them while the ground is able to absorb it. Autumn rains are nature's way of helping the world's shrubs and trees make it through the winter.
Remember that if it's not raining where you are, or if the amount you get is not too significant, do your shrubs and trees a favor and water them, deeply! Allow the hose to dribble down to the roots for at least half and hour at a time. Do this during any dry spell in the autumn. Your plants will be very appreciative.
You can also buy an "Anti-Desiccant"spray at your local garden center that can be sprayed on the evergreen leaves which will help slow down this drying out process. I always spray my Rhodies, Azaleas, and other broad-leafed, evergreen shrubs. It's very helpful.
This is where a burlap tee-pee can be very helpful as well. The tee-pee will also help keep the snow load from breaking branches. Just remember NEVER use plastic. Plastic doesn't breathe and just like you, a plant needs to breathe!