Pruning your plants is necessary for proper plant growth and development.

A properly and regularly pruned plant will be stronger and more disease resistant than one that is not.

What is Pruning?

Pruning is the removal or reduction of plant material that is dead, diseased or no longer needed.

By removing this, this helps to conserve the plant’s energy back into the healthier parts of the plant and the plant will then channel that energy into new growth, flowering, fruit production and overall development.

To a novice, pruning may seem a cruel or difficult task, but in essence it is one of nature’s foundations of ensuring healthy growth. In nature, pruning is done by strong winds or other natural events. However, in urban gardens, we cannot rely on nature to prune all of our plants.

Considerations When Pruning

When you begin to prune your plants, here are the objectives to keep in mind:

• remove dead or diseased areas
• remove damaged areas
• repair injuries
• stimulate new growth
• balance branches
• induce flowering or fruit production
• elimination of safety hazards
• provide additional sunlight for plants and grasses below
• maintain shape

Heavy pruning, the kind that initiates growth, should be done in early spring and summer. Pruning heavily in Fall or Winter will place the new growth at a risk to damage by temperatures. Light trimming, however can be done year round, especially with evergreens. If you’re just beginning, it’s always best to trim too little than too much. You can always go back to remove extra.

Pruning Tools

Some suggested tools for pruning are:

• pruning shears
• lopping shears
• hedge shears
• orchard saw
• pruning saw
• pole pruner
• pole saw (pictured)

Before you prune, be sure to observe the growth habits of the plant; does it lean? It is starting to grow uneven? Are parts of the plant not receiving adequate sun?

These factors need to be determined to assist you in proper pruning. Try to develop shapes that allow adequate light and ease of growth for the plant.

Mulch has many benefits and is commonly underestimated in today’s gardens. Mulching is an essential part of giving life and preserving your garden, especially during colder months.

What is Mulching

The short and easy explanation of what we are trying to accomplish with mulching is that we’re creating a “blanket” for the soil and plants. This blanket will then keep your garden protected from numerous elements which could otherwise hurt your garden.

Okay that was the short and sweet answer, the more accurate answer is that mulching is when you cover the ground (i.e. soil) around plants, trees, shrubs, and even your grass, to create a better environment for your garden. Below I will share with you some of what mulch is made up of, but for now understand that we mulch to do things like:

• inhibits weeds (see our tips on weed control)
• reduce evaporation of soil moisture
• temperature control
• add organic matter as it breaks down
• deter erosion
• gives a clean finish
• keeps pathways (and homes) clean by limiting soil being tracked in with shoes

What Does Mulch Consist Of?

Organic Mulches

No we’re not taking out that old blanket your grandparents made for you one Christmas which stays nicely tucked away in that dark corner of your closet, we’re talking about finding things in nature which can presumably break down as time passes but for now, adds a layer of protection to your garden.

Things like wood chips and pine bark work great (shredded is best, but chips will do), however they don’t have to be limited to just wood chips or pine bark. Many materials make excellent mulch, and some are even free.

• leaves
• grass clippings
• hay
• corn cobs
• leaf mold
• your neighbors lawn clippings and trimmings by the curb
• straw

When spreading mulch, aim for a 3″ layer and water it in well. Soon, your garden will reap the benefits of your work.

Synthetic Mulches

There are also some mulches that last for years, these are typically made with recycled rubber.

Unfortunately, these will not offer the benefit of adding organic matter to the soil. Such types of mulches are best suited for areas where only necessary, such as heavily trafficked play grounds, as they do not assist in soil health.

Some synthetic mulches might include:

• Recycled rubber from tires. Not always ideal because sometimes there can be metal shards left over from the original tire. Also, it can contain some chemicals which are harmful to your garden, so keep this in a play area.
• Plastic. Obviously plastic will not allow water to fall through, so this really should only be used if you have drought resistant plants and it’s in an area with heavy rainfall. Plastic also runs the risk of suffocating plants and also super heating the ground. If you use this method, make sure you have good plant irrigation method set up.
• Rubber mats. These are more used for playgrounds but can be used to simulate grass and other ground covers in your garden.

Typically when we talk about synthetic mulches we are talking about the tires kind because it’s shredded and used like organic mulch is used; however, I wanted to list the other two (plastic and mats) because they are used for similar reasons.

Similar reasons might include weed and temperature control.

Is Mulching Necessary in Houston Landscaping?

Landscaping in Houston (and gardening, too) can be tricky at times because typically we have a pretty stable weather pattern each year; however, at times we can have a nice range of temperature changes between summer and winter which throws a wrench in everything.

Check out our average weather temperatures here in Houston (click the image to go to the source of this information):

Not too bad, but let’s face it…

It can get butt cold in the winter time (it was once 9 degrees out in 1989) and a bit warm in the summer. Luckily, it’s not always 9 degrees in the winter. In fact, our average temperatures are pretty reasonable like the graph shows.

So is mulching necessary here in Houston?

If you ask most homeowners, I’m sure their answer would be no – because they don’t do it and their plants are fine. But if you’re a serious gardener with delicate plants which don’t always harden for the winter, then yes, mulching and finding ways to protect your plants is a must.

In the Houston area, we are blessed with an average of 50 inches of rain per year, however even with a bountiful rainy season, irrigation is a necessary need for most plants.

There are several ways to properly irrigate your yard:

An irrigation system. This option typically is recommended, but it may be costly.

In the long, however, it will run ease of maintenance and a lush lawn and garden will be the reward.

Portable sprinklers are another option. These have to be maneuvered and placed around the yard for complete coverage.

Hand watering is best left for container pots and small gardens.

Techniques to water your yard to ensure that the moisture is reaching the plants:

• Early morning watering is best – excess moisture in the evenings can lead to fungus.
• Regular spraying of foliage with water during the warmer months will clean leaves and deter some insect activity.
• During hot weather, container plants must be watered daily.
• If at all possible, utilize rainwater for watering.
• If you must water using city water, try to allow it to sit out overnight so that the chlorine and fluoride will evaporate.
• Do not water mid-day, most of the effort will be lost due to evaporation.

Mulching helps to maintain moisture and gives a clean appearance to gardens. It also protects the plant’s roots during the cooler months by offering insulation.

Some plants will require special care during the cooler months.

If the forecast is anticipating freezing temperatures, there are some necessary steps to ensure your flower beds will survive.

Keeping the soil moist helps to prevent cold air from permeating it, thus damaging tender roots.

Mulching also retains heat and moisture, providing an additional level of protection for your garden.

Keeping Plants Warm

When freezing temperatures are predicted, cover tender plants with fabric or paper or plastics; however, if plants are covered in a non breathable material, be sure to uncover them first thing in the morning. If you don’t uncover them first thing, the plants may suffocate.

I personally suggest using burlap for trees and shrubs.

Hardy perennials (what is a perennial) would actually be well taken care of by the winter itself if they were covered in a mask of snow.

The problem comes when there might be a little snowfall but it doesn’t really stick or simply just darn cold, which then brings the frost. This unmerciful force of cold temperatures can kill many plants and trees even if they are hardy (i.e. ready for the cold).

Avoid Root Rot

Be very careful if your landscape has a poor drainage system. If snow melts and the water sits on your soil for too long, what can happen is something we call root rot. I’m sure you can tell just from the words that “root rot” is not something we want to happen and can kill your plants.

One thing I suggest you do if your trees and shrubs are relatively young (or recently transplanted) is to water them deeply before the winter cold freezes the ground (see also our irrigation article). You can even take it a step further and spray your evergreens with a sealant called, Wilt-Pruf, which helps lock in moisture.

Create a Blanket for the Ground

What do you do when you’re in the house, on the couch and cold? You cover up, right?

So if the ground outside is going to freeze, guess what you can do to help keep it warm? Cover it!

Grab yourself a little more of that burlap we talked about earlier and use it as a blanket on the ground in sensitive areas around your plants.

If you don’t have burlap or something else to cover the ground with, use what you can find in nature:

• leaves
• ground bark (shredded preferred, but chipped will do)
• straw
• pine needles

Be creative if you have to, just make sure the ground surrounding your plants doesn’t freeze if at all possible.

Block the Cold Wind

Okay so it’s cold out, but what makes it feel even colder? Wind.

If at all possible, try to cover your smaller plants with some kind of windbreak. Use a helmet, towel, bag, pot, or whatever. Feel free to be creative here. Don’t forget, though, that plants need to breathe too, so make sure if what you’re using restricts airflow too much that you uncover it during the warmer part of the day for a bit. Also, the reverse is true. Don’t let the cover overheat your plant when the sun comes out.

Knock Snow Off Branches

A little bit of snow doesn’t weigh much, but a lot of snow on leaves and branches can begin to weigh down the branches of your trees and shrubs. If they become too heavy, the branches could break under the stress.

Gently knock off piles of snow from the branches starting from the bottom and working your way up. Be gentle, though, you don’t want to break the branches yourself.

If you have delicate tropicals, however, keep in mind that they will need to be dug up and stored in a greenhouse or some other shelter no later than November 1st of every year. These kinds of plants may not harden enough for the winter cold.

Maintenance

There also are a few points in maintenance that coincide directly with winter.

First off, don’t prune in the Fall. When you prune a plant, it encourages new growth. The new growth will be susceptible to the extreme temperatures of winter.

Secondly, avoid applying fertilizers that are high in nitrogen during the Fall. The nitrogen also encourages new growth, which is unwanted just before winter.

Keep these points in mind when gardening in Houston during the colder months. A heavy tropical landscape will entail a lot of work to preserve the plants over winter. Plant tender varieties alongside areas that offer protection from the elements, such as fences, walls and sturdy shrubs. Educate yourself of the species you chose for your garden, and be prepared for any additional care that may be needed over the winter months.

There is nothing more attractive than a lush healthy lawn adorned in a beautiful array of color.

This is not only limited to spring, but it can be accomplished year round.

By choosing the right flowering species and knowing when these plants bloom, you can strategically plant your yard for a colorful show year round.

Seasonally, garden centers will showcase colorful flowers for sale in flats. Flats are immature plants sold in small containers and are commonly used as bedding plants.

They are rapid growers and should be spaces 8-12″ apart in a flower bed. These plants are usually annuals, meaning they will only last for one season.

Perennials, in contrast, last several years. There are also some annuals, such as the periwinkle (pictured) that behave as perennials because they reseed themselves every year. These types of annuals may die back in the colder months, but reappear as warmer weather approaches.

Landscaping in Houston and Keeping Color During Cooler Months

While landscaping in Houston and considering weather changes, there are several species of plants that will adorn your landscape with color despite the climate changes.

For the cooler months, place your plantings where they will be protected from hash winds and that will receive ample sun. Suggested cool weather plants are:

• bachelor’s buttons
• calendula
• carnation
• columbine
• English daisy
• larkspur
• pansies
• petunias
• snapdragons
• sweet peas
• violas

Our area has basically two seasons, we have a warm season and a cool season, and there is an array of plants that are suited to each season as well.

Colorful Plants

Adding color to your garden is not limited to just flowers.

There are plenty of colorful plants as well that can paint your landscape with an array of color. Sanchezias (pictured) have yellow-green foliage, and amaranth will show of it’s reds, yellows and oranges.

The wandering jew, with its greens and purples will liven up shady areas of your yard.

Wildflowers

In Texas, there is also a wide array of wildflowers that can give your garden a color burst.

Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and buttercups are just a few to name.

Many wildflowers are produced by bulbs, tubers corms and rhizomes. 

Houston gardeners are finding that planting colorful wildflowers in place of the higher maintenance annuals make gardening a breeze and are supporting state conservation efforts; however, it’s important to note that obtaining wildflower specimens must be done through local garden centers or nurseries.

It’s against state law to collect plants from the wild. Seed companies or nurseries are the best way to start your own personal wildflower garden.

To obtain year round color, simply following these simple steps will enable your landscape design to remain colorful- despite the season.

Utilize shrubs and plants that have colorful or variegated leaves.

Plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall, summer blooming flowers in early spring.

Pay attention to sun loving and shade loving species.

Plant colorful cool weather flowers in flower beds in early fall.

Plant annuals in early spring.