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January is quiet above ground, but under the surface it’s one of the most important months for setting the year up for success. Here are 10 helpful tips to get you prepped for spring.
1. Study Your Landscaping
- Note standing water, erosion, wind exposure, and frost pockets
- Identify plants that struggled last year
- Watch where sun and shade fall now (very different than summer)
These observations guide smarter plant placement and design changes.
2. Prune Dormant Trees & Shrubs
Dormant plants make January the best time for heavy pruning:
- Prune native trees and shrubs
- Remove crossing, damaged, or poorly structured branches
- Avoid spring-flowering shrubs (they already have buds) like the Texas Mountain Laurel
- Do not top trees or over-prune—native plants thrive with minimal intervention.
3. Protect Plants from Cold
Winter damage is often from dry wind, not cold alone:
- Mulch root zones (2–4 inches, not against trunks)
- Use frost cloth on young or more tender plants
- Water during dry spells, when soil isn’t frozen
- Native plants are tough—but first-year plants are still babies and need extra love.
4. Soil Health Comes First
January is about feeding the soil, not the plant:
- Add compost to beds and around trees
- Avoid compacting wet soil
- Healthy soil = drought tolerance, pest resistance, and better flowering.
5. Pull Weeds While They’re Weak
- Winter annual weeds are easy to control now:
- Hand-pull before they go to seed
- Target invasive species early
- Mulch disturbed areas immediately to save headaches in the spring
6. Plan Native Plant Additions
January is prime design and planning season:
- Choose plants suited to your soil and exposure
- Prioritize keystone native species to create great anchors in the landscape
- Think about layers: canopy, understory, shrubs, groundcover
7. Start looking for the seeds and native plants you will want to use
Native gardening rewards early preparation
- Get seeds that need cold stratification now
- Plan late winter and early spring installs now
8. Maintain Hardscape & Infrastructure
Use this slower season to:
- Repair edging, paths, decks and retaining walls
- Clean and sharpen tools
A solid framework supports long-term plant health.
9. Support Wildlife in Winter
Your garden is still a habitat:
- Leave seed heads and leaf litter where possible
- Clean bird feeders and provide fresh water
- Avoid unnecessary cleanup—messy gardens save lives
Native landscapes are important to our wildlife and smallest critters.
10. Learn & Reflect
January is for education and intention:
- Review what worked last year
- Learn which native plants will work best in your landscape
- Set goals for the season ahead
Winter is not the off-season – it’s the foundation season! Need help coming up with a plan for spring? Grizzly’s can help with landscape design and installation. Give us a call or come see us at the nursery. You can also follow us on Facebook for regular updates.
