The temperatures are cooler, the days are short, and the plants are going to sleep. That’s why (usually) the autumn landscape is very low maintenance and I always advise people never to water or fertilize their plants, but due to the unprecedented drought, it might be time to give a few plants a little drink.

Broadleaf evergreens have large leaves that remain all winter long, and those big leaves make them very prone to water loss and cold damage. During the winter, you may notice plants like camellia or rhododendron wilt on cold days, but right now they’re wilting in response to the dry conditions which is very unusual for this time of the year. The flower buds for spring are already on the tree so for this reason, I’m giving my rhododendrons a little drink.

It's important to water as sparingly as possible during a drought. Save your fallen leaves and use them as a mulch. It’ll help prevent water loss. A little water goes a long way this time of the year. Just a quick drink should be enough to get them through the rest of the year.

The timing of this epic drought actually couldn't be better for most plants. Deciduous trees and grasses are completely dormant and require absolutely no water to survive during cooler weather.

You may notice pines and firs are shedding their older leaves. This is normal in autumn and in the spring for any interior needles, but if you’re seeing new growth drop, it could be a sign of stress. Established pines and evergreen trees don’t need water this time of the year, but newly planted trees could benefit from a little drink. Again, a little goes such a long way this time of the year, and I would withhold water once temperatures are regularly dropping down to nearly freezing at night.