January Landscape Checklist: Preparing Your DFW Yard for Spring

January in North Texas is often considered the "off-season," but for a pro landscaper, it’s the preparation season. The work you do now determines how good your property looks in March.

Here is the Mowing Best checklist for what you should (and shouldn't) be doing in your yard this month.

1. Cut Back Perennials and Ornamental Grasses Now is the time to clean up the flower beds.

• Perennials: If your hostas, daylilies, or salvias have turned brown and crispy, cut them back to about 2-3 inches above the ground. This clears the way for new green growth.
• Ornamental Grasses: You can trim these now or wait until early February. Just make sure to do it before you see new green shoots poking through the bottom.

2. The Mulch Refresh Mulch isn't just for looks; it’s a winter coat for your plant roots. A fresh 2-3 inch layer of mulch helps regulate soil temperature during those sudden DFW drops to 20 degrees. It also holds moisture in, which is critical during dry, windy winter days.

3. Tree Pruning (With Caution)January is a great time to prune most trees while they are dormant and you can see the branch structure clearly. Remove crossing branches or "suckers" at the base.

• Warning for Oak Trees: In North Texas, we have to be careful about Oak Wilt. The safest time to prune Oaks is strictly during the coldest part of winter (now) or the hottest part of summer. Always paint the cuts on an Oak tree immediately with pruning sealer or latex paint to prevent beetles from entering the wound.

4. Check Your Irrigation System We see it every year: a homeowner turns on their system in April only to find a head was kicked off or a pipe cracked during a freeze.

• Take a walk around your property on a warm afternoon.
• Run a quick test cycle.
• Look for "geysers" or areas that are unusually soggy. Fixing a small leak now is cheaper than paying for a massive water bill in the spring.

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