Do Trees Need Water in Winter? Why February Is the Cruelest Month for Thirsty Trees in North Texas

How to Prevent Winter Drought Stress in DFW Trees Before Spring Damage Appears

February in North Texas can feel deceptively quiet in the yard. The trees are bare, the lawn is dormant, the irrigation system is winterized, and most homeowners have mentally moved on until spring. But beneath the soil, something important is happening that most people never see until it is far too late. At Advanced Tree and Shrub Care, Inc., our team of ISA Certified Arborists and Board Certified Master Arborist has spent more than 20 years watching the same story unfold across the DFW Metroplex: a tree that looked perfectly healthy in February shows up struggling in May, and by summer, it is in serious decline. The culprit, more often than not, is winter drought stress, and it is almost entirely preventable. 

Why Tree Roots Do Not Take a Winter Vacation

Here is the most important thing to understand about dormant trees: the part you cannot see never actually stops working. While a deciduous tree may look completely still above ground in February, its root system remains active all winter long. Roots continue pulling moisture from the soil, supporting the tree’s vascular system, and storing energy for the burst of growth that comes with spring.

What makes February particularly risky in the DFW area is the combination of low rainfall and persistent dry winter winds. Unlike regions that receive consistent snow cover, North Texas goes weeks at a time without meaningful precipitation, and the wind accelerates soil drying significantly. Your trees are working in those conditions without the benefit of their leaves to signal stress the way they would in summer.

The Hidden Damage You Won’t See Until It’s Too Late

Winter drought stress in trees is a delayed problem, and that delay is what makes it so dangerous. When a tree is dehydrated in July, you see it within days: wilting leaves, curling foliage, obvious distress. When a tree is dehydrated in February, there are no visual cues at all. The damage accumulates silently, and the full effects can take up to two years to appear.

What is actually happening during that time is significant. Dry soil freezes faster than moist soil, and when it does, it can kill the fine feeder roots that are responsible for nutrient and water uptake. Once those feeder roots are damaged, the tree enters spring already compromised. It may leaf out slowly, show sparse or off-color foliage, struggle through summer heat, or become vulnerable to secondary problems like pests and disease that a healthy tree would normally resist.

Dry winter soil also disrupts the beneficial microbial activity that keeps soil healthy. Without adequate moisture, the organisms responsible for breaking down organic matter and enriching soil die off, creating a deficit that compounds the tree’s difficulties over time.

What to Watch for When Spring Arrives

If your trees did not receive consistent winter watering, spring will reveal the damage. Signs of winter drought stress to watch for include delayed leaf emergence, sparse or undersized leaves, off-color foliage, early leaf drop, and dieback in branch tips. If you notice any of these following a dry winter, it is time to call a certified arborist for a professional assessment before the problem deepens.

Advanced Tree and Shrub Care offers thorough tree health diagnostics to identify decline and develop a recovery plan tailored to your specific trees and soil conditions. Catching winter stress early makes a significant difference in outcomes.

Do you need to know how to water your trees during these dry winter days?  Call Advanced Tree and Shrub Care, Inc. today to meet with one of our arborists!

Your trees are working hard for you all year long, including February. Give them the care they deserve.