PA Drought Watch Is Down to 5 Counties. Water Your Evergreens Before the Ground Freezes
Pennsylvania's drought watch now covers five counties and central PA is back to normal. Where things stand, which water systems still ask you to conserve, and how to protect evergreens this winter.
Pennsylvania’s drought is nearly over on paper. After the Commonwealth Drought Task Force met on Oct. 2, state officials returned seven counties to normal and moved Berks and Lehigh from drought warning down to drought watch. That leaves five counties under a watch and none under a warning or emergency.
The short version
Drought watch now covers only Berks, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton and Lehigh counties. Central PA, including Clinton, Centre, Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Northumberland, is back to normal, though some water systems in Centre and Northumberland still ask customers to conserve. In January, 40 counties were under a watch. A dry stretch is hard on evergreens, so water them deeply before the ground freezes.
Where Pennsylvania stands
| Status | Counties |
|---|---|
| Drought watch | Berks, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Lehigh |
| Drought warning or emergency | None |
| Returned to normal after Oct. 2 | Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northampton |
| Improved from warning to watch | Berks, Lehigh |
| Central PA (Clinton, Centre, Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Mifflin, Northumberland) | Normal |
“Normal” doesn’t mean every tap is back to business as usual. The DEP page lists public water suppliers that have asked for voluntary conservation, including Pennsylvania American Water’s Boggs, Nittany and Philipsburg Moshannon districts in Centre County and, in Northumberland County, Herndon Borough’s system plus Pennsylvania American Water’s McEwensville, Turbotville and White Deer systems. If you’re on one of those systems, follow your supplier’s request.
It’s a big change from the start of the year. After a Jan. 8, 2026 expansion, 40 counties were under drought watch and one under a warning, according to the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center.
What a dry stretch leaves behind in your yard
Evergreens keep losing water through their needles and leaves all winter. When the ground is frozen, the roots can’t replace it, and the result is winter burn: brown, dead foliage in spring. Penn State Extension lists the plants most at risk:
- Broadleaf evergreens: azalea, boxwood, rhododendron, mountain laurel and holly.
- Needled evergreens: fir, spruce, pine, yew and hemlock.
- Scale-leaved evergreens: arborvitae, juniper and false cypress.
What to do before the ground freezes
- Water deeply, not often. Penn State recommends deep, infrequent watering during dry fall spells, so the soil holds moisture plants can use during winter thaws. Don’t waterlog the soil; saturated soil that freezes can lead to root rot.
- Water on mild days. University of Illinois Extension advises watering only when it’s above 40°F and stopping once the ground freezes, because roots can’t take up water through frozen soil.
- Mulch the root zone. Penn State says mulch insulates roots, keeps the soil from freezing and thawing over and over, and cuts moisture loss. Without insulating snow, Penn State calls mulch the plant’s “best friend.”
- Screen exposed plants. For evergreens on the windy south and west sides, Penn State suggests 4- to 5-foot stakes about 2 feet from the drip line with burlap or canvas attached and the top left open. Don’t stuff the enclosure with leaves, which draws rodents that chew bark. Take it down in spring once temperatures stay above 28°F.
Builder’s note: A dry stretch hides drainage problems. Once the fall rains return, walk the yard during a heavy rain and note where water pools against the house, a wall or a patio. That list is your spring drainage plan. Our guide to catch basins vs. French drains covers which fix fits which problem.
Sources: PA DEP, Current Drought Declaration Status; USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Drought Watch Expanded to 40 Pennsylvania Counties; Penn State Extension, Preventing Winter Burn on Evergreen Landscape Plants; University of Illinois Extension, Watering trees, shrubs in the fall and winter is a balancing act
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Written and reviewed by Thayne Muthler, owner of Muthler Landscaping & Construction (PA HIC #PA212584). How we check facts: editorial policy.