How much effort do you need to put into preparing your landscape for winter?
As much as you're willing to put into it. Set reasonable goals for yourself -- with tasks you'll enjoy doing -- and adjust your expectations from there. Here we've provided a monthly task list for those who stay outdoors as long as possible, and those who head for the fireside as soon as the first leaves drop.
First, know your personality type – are you someone who:
A -- Absolutely loves working in your landscape in the winter
B -- Believes in putting it to rest so you can read catalogs until spring
C -- Closes up shop the second it dips below 50 degrees.
Then, use that type to make a realistic month-by-month plan for preparing your landscape:
OCTOBER (If you haven't done these yet, roll them into your November plan!)
ABC 1. Reduce your watering in October as the nights cool down
ABC 2. Watch for white flies on perennials, and spray them off with your hose.
AB 3. Purchase mums at the ‘crack’ stage so you know the color
AB 4. Start cleaning out beds of tired or diseased plants, get the compost cooking
A 5. Plant your cool season veggies and herbs
A 6. Buy perennials on sale and get them in the ground
AB 7. Plant a tree, and scatter some wildflower seeds (it’s not too late!)
A 8. Plant winter annuals (pansies, kale, snapdragons, cyclamen, dianthus, stock, etc.)
ABC 9. Don't cut native bunch grasses until spring to enjoy beautiful seed heads.
C 10. Put your feet up, it’s football season!
NOVEMBER
ABC 1. Mow for the last time at the highest mower height. Run the machine until the gas tank is empty, clean the mower and sharpen blades.
ABC 2. Turn off your irrigation system.
AB 3. Plant bulbs for spring late in the month
AB 4. Start planning for the first freeze, move pots to protected areas
AB 5. Start raking those leaves for the compost pile -- or better yet, mulch them!
AB 6. Browse those wonderful plant catalogs and mark everything you want -- but don't buy just yet!
C 7. Spend the month planning for the holidays
DECEMBER
AB 1. Check your irrigation system by running it for two minutes only.
A 2. Check for insect problems before moving sensitive plants inside.
A 3. Cut back woody perennials to 3-4" stubs after the second freeze.
A 4. Mulch beds early in the month for the best protection.
A 5. Lightly fertilize your winter grass (1/4-1/2 strength if yellow)
AB 6. Start planning your spring vegetable garden.
AB 7. Revisit your plant catalogs and narrow down your selections -- and the cost!
C 8. Hope for snow to put a pretty face on the browning landscape.
JANUARY
A 1. Prune your oak trees.
A 2. Deadhead the annuals you've planted for better flowers in spring.
A 3. Turn compost and add winter weeds to your fall leaves.
BC 4. Enjoy the season – make New Year’s last all month!
FEBRUARY
A 1. Cut back your ornamental grasses to 10”
A 2. Hand-pull your winter weeds in turf and beds.
AB 3. Mulch your beds, but don't bury those sprouting perennials.
AB 4. Apply bait to thwart the coming fire ants.
AB 5. Apply dormant oil for crape myrtles, also for treat for leaf rollers on yaupons.
C 6. Buy some gas for your mower and start it in the garage once or twice -- with the door open!
MARCH
AB 1. Plant like crazy if freezes are over (look for leaves on the Mesquite).
AB 2. Severely prune early flowering shrubs for shape, right after they bloom.
AB 3. Fertilize beds with a slow release or organic fertilizer.
AB 4. Start shopping for those spring annuals.
AB 5. Mow the lawn, but only when you must.
AB 6. Have your irrigation system checked out and tuned up.
AB 7. Heavy rains and high humidity can lead to brown patch, so keep your guard up.
C 8. Hire a crew to come in and do some cleaning up. Cut back all perennials, rake leaves and mow the grass for the first time. Plant your spring flowers, and mulch all beds after weeding.
With a little care, your landscape can look better than ever this coming spring!
original text by Sara Twaddle, CLP
Greater Texas Landscapes, Inc.
(additional edits by Drema Gross, COA)
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