There’s one thing you can count on for sure about the
weather in the Katy area: you can’t count on it! One day it’s 30 degrees
outside and the next it’s 80. You just can’t predict what to expect, especially
in February, when the yards of Katy don’t know if it’s winter or spring. You
don’t want to jump the gun with your landscaping, only to have another hard
freeze undo your work. But then again, you don’t want to be left behind in
landscaping tasks that can prepare your lawn and garden for a beautiful spring
ahead. Here’s some advice about what you should be doing now, as the growing
seasons approach.
Pruning
One of the big keys to gorgeous landscaping in the months
ahead is to prune now. Pruning is a regular task in maintaining your plants,
and involves selectively removing certain plant parts. Some great reasons for
pruning include improving the appearance and health of plants, controlling a
plant’s size, training young plants, preventing property damage or personal
injury, encouraging flowering and fruiting, and restoring old plants. Here are
some guidelines for pruning in February:
- Trim dormant native plants
and woody perennials that resemble sticks. This helps new shoots flourish
later.
- Prune trees, especially the
oaks that are so common in Katy landscaping. Doing this in cooler weather
helps avoid diseases like oak wilt. Don’t forget to prune your crepe
myrtles too.
- Tend your roses by
fertilizing and pruning them to encourage strong, healthy leaves and attractive
buds.
Weeding
There’s no way to put this strongly enough….WEED your
landscaping now!!! If you neglect this important landscaping task, you’ll be
dealing with the seeds for months and months to come. Don’t succumb to using
chemicals during this time of year, because they won’t successfully do the job.
Weeding needs to be done the old-fashioned way of digging them out with a
shovel, getting all of their roots, and consistently watching for new sprouts and
yanking them as soon as they appear. It’s also a good idea to mow the lawn
regularly to help control weeds, even though you may not think your grass needs
mowing.
Preparing
Any planting or transplanting of shrubs and trees should be
completed very soon, before the Katy heat kicks in for good. Prepare your
gardens and flower beds by testing the soil, adding fertilizer, and turning the
soil. Don’t forget to take a good look at your lawn. If you notice any brown
patches, treat the lawn in late February with a fungicide. This is the right
time to protect your lawn from further damage and to get it in good shape for
the warmer seasons ahead.
Contact C4 Landscape & Design today for all your landscaping needs.
Contact C4 Landscape & Design today for all your landscaping needs.
