There’s a chill in the air, leaves are starting to fall, and the holidays are here! Welcome to December
December is still one of the best times for plantings hardy trees and shrubs – trees, shrubs and general plants that are planted in the fall will have ample time to establish themselves before the summer months.
Here is a to-do list for landscaping and gardening in the Dallas/North Texas region to keep your lawn and landscape beautiful.
Planting: Continue planting cool season annuals like pansies and flowering kale, which provide wonderful fall and winter colors for your landscape. This is also a good time of year to plant daffodils. Once temperatures reach the low 50s for several days, you can plant pre-chilled tulip and hyacinth bulbs (usually late December through early January).
You can also continue to plant or move hardy shade trees, fruit trees and evergreen shrubs this month. Take care to water them appropriately, keeping the soil moist yet not sopping wet.
Watering: It’s time to reduce the frequency of watering, or even turn off your irrigation system for the winter.
If you need to check, repair or upgrade your irrigations system, please call us. We have licensed irrigators and trained technicians to keep your landscape healthy and flourishing.
Mulching: Check to make sure you have 3-4 inches of quality mulch in your beds and around all shrubs and young trees. Mulch offers several advantages for your plants. In addition to benefits in the summer time, it also can help with freeze protection for your fall plantings
Lawn Mowing: With cooler temperatures, your turf will start growing at a slower rate. Keep it mowed to its regular height during the fall and winter. It may need mowed only every two to three weeks.
Fertilizer & Weed Control: If you are planting pansies or other annuals for fall color, it is best to use a high nitrogen fertilizer a few times the first week after planting to get them off to a good start.
Pruning: While you should avoid any major pruning until the dormant winter months, continue to prune out dead or broken branches from your woody, ornamental trees and shrubs.
Clean Up: Stay on top of those fallen leaves and branches in your yard and beds. A clean, well-kept landscape keeps your property looking its best year-round. Call us if you need help with your clean-up project this winter.
Cold Weather: Be prepared to cover flowers, plants and shrubs that can’t withstand freezing weather. Have covers pre-cut and standing by to protect your investment in your plantings. It will probably help to have bricks or rocks to weigh down the covers to prevent them from blowing away. We’re Here to Help: If you need any assistance, we are here to help. High Quality Landscape Services has been creating beautiful landscapes and providing exceptional service to Dallas residential and commercial customers for 45 years. If you need landscaping services, maintenance, irrigation or chemical control, let us put our experience to work for you to create a beautiful landscape.
