What do you do about watering outdoor containers in the autumn/winter?

[AntiqueMaps]

Hello

This is my first winter with a garden so apologies for the remedial question.

I have containers out the front (south facing) and out the back (north facing).

I know not to water them if frost is forecast but what about otherwise? Does it depend on the plant? Do I feel each one's soil say weekly? I've listed below what I have.

Thanks

Rose (just potted a bare root so has never yet flowered)
Hosta
Heather
Spruce
Juniper
Holly
Hebe
Rosemary
Lavender
Mint
Thyme
Lawson Cypress
Lemon Cypress

Bulbs recently planted in pots
Wildflower seeds recently planted in pot

I still water at the moment but very sparingly. You don’t want the roots to sit in wet and for it to suddenly go really cold.

Water when the sun comes out for more than a day and then if the plant appears to droop. Otherwise leave them. For the wildflower seeds, just don't let the surface soil dry out too much so they might need more every day.

Then feed in the spring once things start growing again. If they are in saucers, take them out of the saucers to stop them spending weeks in water. Then put them back on them in spring.

I don't water containers at all between September and April.

I have quite a few azaleas and a dwarf rhododendron and I only water them if there is a dry spell of several days to a week or they look as if they are drooping. Garden border plants and bulbs get nothing.

Bulbs in pots, I leave, I always feed them once after they are planted (as per Monty Don) and that's it.

I also bought a lot of heavy duty pot holders so that nothing is sitting on the ground, it stops waterlogging if we get very heavy rain and also keeps the slimy pests from getting into the plants and bulbs.

It depends entirely on the size of the container, the size of the plant, the prevailing wind, whether they are decidous or evergreen, whether they prefer not to sit in soggy soil eg: rosemary, what the pot is made of, and how often (and how much) it rains.

Your best bet is to get used to how much each of them weighs. You can then go round and just water the ones that feel a bit on the light side.