Winter (January) Landscape Care: Protecting & Caring for Plants

Here are some things you can do in the garden in January to help your plants thrive.

• Spread corn gluten as a natural pre-emergent herbicide for spring weeds. This helps by preventing the germination of weed seeds. 

• Prune your fruit trees for increased production.  Winter pruning puts less stress on dormant trees, allowing them to conserve their energy for flowering and fruiting. Furthermore, planting trees while in dormancy is good for the same reason.

• Ensure your watering system is in good working order. If a freeze is anticipated, water the soil deeply beforehand. Moistening the soil helps it stay warm and insulates the plant roots in freezing weather. Dry plants can suffer more damage than well watered plants. Although damp soil is good, sopping soil is not during a freeze. As always, check in with the City of Austin on current water restrictions. 

Quick tip: 

At the end of January or the beginning of February (depending on temperatures) start cutbacks and pruning of perennials, grasses, and roses. And when there's a freeze alert, remember to cover any of your tender plants.