Watering evergreens through the winter? (trees, spring, freeze, bulb)

[Bruceski44]

I'm in Zone 6b. It's been below freezing for over a month now; saw -4F in December. No precipitation for a month or more.

I planted a Hollywood Juniper in July last year. It was well established and grew about a foot before winter. I noticed today it's beginning to look a little brown instead of the solid deep, green it's been.

Should I keep watering it through the winter?

Thanks in advance for your helpful replies,
b

[Hemlock140]

Normally you do need to keep a newly planted tree watered for at least the first year, but if the ground and roots are frozen it will not take up water and it could cause root rot. Those should be hardy in zones 5-9, but if only in the ground 6 months, it may have suffered from the cold without deep roots. I would mulch heavily around it, but 1/2 away from the trunk, and hopefully it has enough good roots to hang in there until it warms up. For any new tree I would mulch the first winter, it's conserves moisture in addition to keeping the roots from freezing.

[sam812]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Normally you do need to keep a newly planted tree watered for at least the first year, but if the ground and roots are frozen it will not take up water and it could cause root rot. Those should be hardy in zones 5-9, but if only in the ground 6 months, it may have suffered from the cold without deep roots. I would mulch heavily around it, but 1/2 away from the trunk, and hopefully it has enough good roots to hang in there until it warms up. For any new tree I would mulch the first winter, it's conserves moisture in addition to keeping the roots from freezing.

I suppose it could be different depending on location. Mulching in the fall keeps the ground from doing several freeze thaw cycles in the spring/fall that will harm many plants/trees/bushes/bulbs.