Transform Your Central Texas Landscape: A Complete Monthly Guide to Year-Round Beauty

Central Texas homeowners know that maintaining a stunning landscape requires more than just occasional weekend yard work. With our region’s unique climate challenges—from scorching summers to unpredictable winter weather—success depends on following a strategic seasonal approach that works with nature’s rhythms rather than against them.

Understanding Central Texas Climate Challenges

Texas landscapes face unique challenges throughout the year, from scorching summers to unpredictable winter weather. Staying on top of seasonal yard care in Texas helps you keep your lawn and plants healthy, resilient, and ready for next season. The first thing to know is that gardening in Central Texas can be a challenge. Temperature, rainfall, and soil types have a wide range of variables, often to the extreme.

Winter Tasks (December – February): Foundation Building

January is the start of a new year and the start of a new gardening season for central Texas. The ground does not freeze solid here, so we have the privilege and opportunity to do during the winter what we generally would do any other time.

January priorities include:

• Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Herbaceous perennials like American beautyberry and Texas lantana can be cut down to the ground and all of the old wood removed, as they completely regrow every year.
• In January, it’s all about keeping landscape beds clean. There can be some winter weeds that we might be dealing with given our warmer climate.
• Dormant perennials, roses, shrubs and trees. This is the best time to move plants!

February brings preparation tasks:

• February is considered the start of spring veggie gardening here in Central Texas. A lot of things can be done already, (keep tending your indoor hot-weather transplants), but keep in mind that it can still freeze. Be prepared to cover tender plants if necessary.
• In February, we might be performing some highly specific pruning if you have Crape Myrtles. February in North Texas is the time to prune these trees.
• February is the safest last chance you will have to transplant your hibernating shrubs and other woody plants. We have some advice to get you going for the quickly approaching growing seasons.

Spring Awakening (March – May): Growth and Renewal

March is when the monthly landscape maintenance schedule really begins to pick up. It’s the unofficial start of the landscaping season because it’s a time when people start planting and spending more time outside.

March essentials:

• Many people are in need of a general clean-up which consists of trimming shrubs, cleaning up winter debris, and preparing flower beds for seasonal plantings. This is the month when a lot of people start thinking about having mulch installed and perhaps adding seasonal flowers.
• Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to established lawns to prevent weed seeds from sprouting. Follow label directions to prevent herbicide runoff and lightly irrigate to get the herbicide to the soil level.
• Spring is the ideal time to inspect and adjust your irrigation system after winter dormancy. Look for leaks, clogged nozzles, and inefficient spray patterns to ensure proper water distribution.

April activities:

• Starting April 1st, mow weekly until November 1st.
• Applying a balanced lawn fertilizer in spring is also helpful to boost your lawn into spring green up. A nitrogren-rich fertilizer will help enhance lawn color and can be applied in early to late spring.

May intensity:

May is a month of intensities for your yard: heat, planting, growing, watering, mulching, and mowing, so let’s get started! Remove faded blooms from your plants to help make room for new growth.

Summer Survival (June – August): Protection and Maintenance

With temperatures often exceeding 100°F, your primary focus should be water management and protection from the intense heat. Water Wisely: Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation. Deep watering encourages root growth, making your lawn more drought-resistant.

Summer strategies:

• Mow Higher: Set your mower to a higher setting, leaving your grass slightly longer. This provides shade to the soil, reduces evaporation, and helps prevent weed growth.
• Weed Out: Summer is prime weed-growing season. Keep an eye out for weeds and apply an appropriate herbicide early to prevent new growth.
• Central Texas summers bring intense heat, which means perfect conditions for armyworms, grubs, and turf diseases. Over-fertilizing in early summer can make the problem worse, as fungus thrives in excess moisture and nitrogen.

Fall Preparation (September – November): Setting Up for Success

This makes the months of October and November a great time for fall landscaping in Texas. From planting to pruning to irrigation repairs, get busy before the first freeze of winter sets in, and don’t forget to program your sprinkler panel.

Fall priorities:

• The fall garden in Central Texas really takes off now. You can plant pretty much any cool-season veggie!
• Lawns will benefit from fall fertilization, another round of seasonal pre-emergents, and pest control treatment or prevention. Raking is also an important landscaping chore that shouldn’t be skipped.
• In fall, cleanups also involve removing leaves and debris from beds. Grasses and perennials should be cut back before winter. Shrubs may be trimmed—but harder pruning is saved for spring so tender, exposed cuts are not subject to freeze damage.

Professional Expertise Makes the Difference

While DIY maintenance is possible, Following the annual lawn care calendar may seem demanding, but knowing each month has its own rhythm with clearly defined activities is reassuring. Adhering to this schedule has numerous benefits—beyond a healthy and visually flawless lawn, you also save time and wisely invest your resources.

For Central Texas homeowners seeking professional guidance, companies like Huaco Landscape & Irrigation understand the unique demands of our region. With 30 years serving Waco and nearby counties, our reputation reflects decades of satisfied customers and beautiful results. Our friendly team provides personalized guidance, ensuring smooth communication and exceptional service from consultation through completion. Their approach focuses on selecting materials and techniques based on TX’s climate to preserve natural beauty. We focus on listening, planning, and executing with a level of attention that reflects the care you have for your home. We use local resources and knowledge to bring you the best landscaping services possible.

Whether you choose to tackle these seasonal tasks yourself or partner with experienced Landscaping Services, following a consistent monthly calendar ensures your Central Texas landscape remains beautiful and healthy throughout the year. Keeping up with these tasks on the right schedule ensures your landscape stays healthy and vibrant year-round. Whether it’s following a lawn fertilization schedule in Texas or planning for seasonal upkeep, a well-organized landscape maintenance checklist helps you stay on track and avoid costly issues down the road.

Remember, successful landscaping in Central Texas isn’t about fighting our climate—it’s about working with it. By following this seasonal calendar and understanding the unique needs of each month, you’ll create an outdoor space that thrives year-round while adding lasting value to your home.