Winter Landscaping in North Texas: Freeze Protection, Dormant Pruning, and Cold-Weather Care

Winter in North Texas is unpredictable. One year you’re wearing shorts in December; the next, you’re dealing with a week of sub-freezing temperatures that threaten your entire landscape. The key to winter landscaping success is preparation — and knowing which tasks to tackle during the dormant season. At Groundhogs Services, we’ve protected landscapes through every DFW winter for years. Here’s your complete guide to winter landscaping in Mesquite, Dallas, and North Texas.

Freeze Protection: Your First Priority

DFW winters are characterized by rapid temperature swings. A 70°F day can be followed by a 20°F night. These sudden drops are what kill plants — not the cold itself, but the lack of preparation.

Which Plants Need Protection

Not all plants need winter protection. Native and well-adapted plants handle our freezes fine. The vulnerable ones are:

**Tropical plants:** Bougainvillea, hibiscus, mandevilla, citrus
**Tender perennials:** Lantana, plumbago, Mexican bush sage (may die back but often return from roots)
**Succulents:** Agave, aloe, prickly pear (some are hardy, some aren’t)
**Young trees:** First- and second-year trees are most vulnerable
**Container plants:** Roots in pots freeze faster than in-ground roots
**Citrus and avocados:** These need serious protection or indoor overwintering

Covering Methods

When a hard freeze (below 28°F) is forecast, here’s how to protect your plants:

Frost cloth — The best option. Lightweight, breathable fabric that traps ground heat while allowing air circulation. Drape directly over plants or use stakes to keep it off foliage. Secure with rocks or landscape staples.

Old sheets and blankets — Work in a pinch. Use stakes to keep fabric off leaves. Remove during the day to prevent overheating. Do NOT use plastic — it traps moisture and can freeze against the plant.

Burlap — Good for wrapping shrubs and small trees. Creates a protective barrier against wind and cold.

Stakes and frames — For larger plants, build a frame and drape fabric over it. This creates an air gap that provides better insulation.

Pre-Freeze Watering

This is one of the most effective freeze protection strategies — and one of the most overlooked. Wet soil holds more heat than dry soil. Watering deeply 24-48 hours before a freeze gives your plants several degrees of extra protection.

**How much:** Water deeply enough to saturate the root zone (6-12 inches)
**When:** 1-2 days before the freeze, during the warm part of the day
**Why it works:** Water releases heat slowly as it freezes, keeping soil temperatures higher

Anti-Desiccant Sprays

Anti-desiccant sprays (also called anti-transpirants) create a waxy coating on leaves that reduces water loss. They’re especially useful for:

**Evergreen shrubs** — Holly, boxwood, rhododendron
**Newly planted trees** — Reduce winter burn on tender foliage
**Pine and spruce** — Prevent needle desiccation from winter winds

Apply when temperatures are above 50°F and no rain is expected for 24 hours. One application typically lasts 2-3 months.

Dormant Pruning: The Winter Advantage

Winter is the ideal time to prune many trees and shrubs. With no leaves, you can see the structure clearly. And with plants dormant, pruning causes less stress.

What to Prune in Winter

**Deciduous trees:** Oak, maple, elm, pecan — prune in late winter (January-February) before sap rises
**Summer-blooming shrubs:** Crape myrtle, butterfly bush, rose of Sharon — prune while dormant
**Fruit trees:** Apple, peach, pear — winter pruning improves fruit production
**Ornamental grasses:** Cut back in late February before new growth emerges
**Roses:** Prune in late February to early March

What NOT to Prune in Winter

**Spring-blooming shrubs:** Azalea, forsythia, quince, lilac — these set flower buds in fall. Pruning now removes this year’s blooms.
**Evergreens:** Light pruning is fine, but major pruning is best done in spring
**Freeze-damaged plants:** Wait until spring to assess damage. What looks dead may recover.

Crape Myrtle Pruning: The Right Way

Crape myrtles are a DFW staple, but they’re also the most commonly butchered tree in North Texas. “Crape murder” — topping crape myrtles to stubs — is harmful and unnecessary. Here’s the right approach:

**Remove suckers** — Cut off growth at the base
**Remove crossing branches** — Thin interior branches for airflow
**Remove seed heads** — Optional; some people like the winter interest
**Raise the canopy** — Remove lower branches to create a tree form
**Do NOT top** — Never cut main trunks back to stubs. It produces weak, ugly growth.

Equipment Storage and Maintenance

Winter is the perfect time to service your landscaping equipment. Proper storage extends the life of your tools and ensures they’re ready when spring arrives.

Power Equipment

**Drain fuel** — Run the engine until it’s out of fuel, or add fuel stabilizer for storage
**Change oil** — Fresh oil prevents corrosion
**Clean or replace air filters** — Dirty filters can cause starting problems
**Sharpen blades** — Mower blades, trimmer heads, and pruners
**Store in a dry place** — Moisture is the enemy of small engines

Hand Tools

**Clean and oil** — Remove dirt and rust, apply light oil to moving parts
**Sharpen** — Pruners, loppers, shears, and shovels
**Hang tools** — Store off the ground to prevent rust

Irrigation System

**Blow out lines** — Use an air compressor to remove water from irrigation pipes
**Insulate backflow preventer** — Wrap with insulation tape or a foam cover
**Drain hoses** — Disconnect, drain, and store hoses indoors

Winter Weeds: Don't Ignore Them

Winter weeds are a problem in DFW. Henbit, chickweed, dandelion, and annual bluegrass germinate in fall, grow slowly through winter, and explode in spring. If you ignore them now, you’ll pay later.

Control Strategies

**Pre-emergent in fall** — Apply pre-emergent in September-October to prevent winter weed germination
**Hand pull** — For small infestations, pull weeds when the soil is moist
**Spot treat** — Use a post-emergent herbicide on actively growing winter weeds on warm days (above 50°F)
**Mulch** — A 2-3 inch layer of mulch prevents weed seeds from germinating

Planning for Spring

Winter is the perfect time to plan your spring landscape projects. With no urgent maintenance tasks, you can think strategically.

What to Plan

**New beds** — Mark out areas for new flower beds or expanded gardens
**Hardscape projects** — Patios, walkways, retaining walls — plan now, build in spring
**Plant selection** — Research plants that will thrive in your specific conditions
**Irrigation upgrades** — Plan drip irrigation, smart controllers, or zone additions
**Budget** — Get quotes and set budgets for spring projects

Ordering Plants

Many nurseries take pre-orders in winter for spring delivery. Ordering early gives you the best selection, especially for popular varieties. Native and adapted plants are often the first to sell out.

DFW-Specific Winter Considerations

Freeze frequency: DFW averages 20-30 freezes per winter, with 2-3 hard freezes (below 28°F). The 2021 winter storm was an extreme outlier — don’t plan for that every year, but do have a plan for it.

Plant selection for freeze zones: When choosing plants, look for USDA hardiness zone 7b or 8a plants (DFW is zone 8a, transitioning to 7b in northern suburbs). Native plants are your safest bet.

Winter sun: Our winter sun is still intense. South- and west-facing plants can suffer from “winter burn” — leaf damage from sun reflecting off snow or from rapid temperature changes. Anti-desiccant sprays help.

Wildlife: Winter is when deer pressure is highest in DFW suburbs. Food is scarce, and they’ll eat plants they normally avoid. Consider deer repellent or fencing for vulnerable areas.

Ready for Winter?

Winter landscaping is about protection and preparation. A little work now saves a lot of heartache — and money — later. If you need help with freeze protection, dormant pruning, or winter landscape maintenance, Groundhogs Services is ready.

Call us at (214) 713-1228 or visit groundhogstx.com to schedule your winter service. We serve Mesquite, Dallas, Garland, Rockwall, and all of North Texas. Let’s get your landscape through winter in great shape.