Generally, on a warm winter afternoon, the top two to three inches of soil are hard--not frozen. And, believe it or not, this is a prime opportunity to break out your hose from storage...or you can use an old-fashioned water bucket! Just run the water from the hose (or pour water from the bucket) slowly around your plants so the top soil absorbs enough moisture. Remember: If you water too quickly, the water will merely run off.

Several gallons of water a few times during the winter can provide enough moisture so your plants stand firmly against the biting cold of winter.