While it may at times be cold outside, spring is just around the corner. The “average” last freeze in the Dallas-Fort Worth region is March 12, but it is not unusual to see the last freeze as early as mid-February or as late as early April.
Early February remains as an excellent time for planting and pruning trees, particularly oak trees. Trees are dormant this time of year, creating the best environment to maintain them, plant them or transplant them.
February is also a great time for cleanup, as leaves have mostly fallen by now.
If you need help with tree trimming or a good early spring cleaning, feel free to give us a call for an estimate.
Here is a to-do list for landscaping and gardening in the Dallas/North Texas region to keep your lawn and landscape beautiful.
Planting: February is a very good time of the year to plant or transplant hardy shade trees, fruit trees, nut trees, roses and evergreen shrubs, especially early in the month while they are still dormant. Take care to water them appropriately, keeping the soil moist yet not sopping wet.
In early February you can still plant pansies and kale for winter color.
Watering: Continue to reduce the frequency of watering, or even turn off your irrigation system for the winter.
With spring nearing, February is a good time to test your irrigation system and make any needed repairs or upgrades. We have licensed irrigators and trained technicians if you need assistance 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 is growing at a much slower rate than in the spring, summer and fall. Keep it mowed to its regular height during the winter. It may need mowed only every two to four weeks.
Fertilizer & Weed Control: Be on the lookout for weeds that can spring up during warm periods in February. Apply pre-emergent in February to established lawns to control warm season broadleaf and grassy weeds like dandelions and crabgrass.
Once temperatures reach 45 to 65 degrees for two weeks, usually mid-February, apply horticultural oil to fruit and pecan trees, and to scale-prone shrubs such as euonymus and hollies.
Pruning: This is the time of year for tree pruning. Pruning fruit and nut trees this time of year thins crowded branches allowing more light to reach developing fruits and nuts, and will improve next season’s harvest. Be sure to prune fruit trees before growth starts in the spring.
You should also prune your shade trees before February 15, during this dormant period, especially oak trees. Trees are much less likely to contract illness and be infected by fungi during the winter months, and pruning during the winter allows the trees to undergo a natural healing process before spring arrives.
Do not prune oak trees from February 15 to June 30 to reduce the chance of oak wilt infestation.
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: It’s still winter with chances for freezing, so 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.
