’Tis the season … to get your yard ready to face the winter ahead. Late fall is the perfect time to prep for cold weather to come, and Westview Nursery & Landscaping has all the tools and products you’ll need to do the job right.
“It’s a good idea to get things done now before the first freeze hits,” said Keith Houck, Westview’s fourth-generation owner. “And keep in mind, fall is considered to be one of the best times of the year for planting trees and shrubbery to get them rooted before next spring and summer roll around.”
A long-standing fixture in the Waco community, Westview Nursery opened on North Valley Mills Drive back in the 1950s, later adding a second location in Woodway. Both nurseries stay open year-round.
For seasonal lawn preparation, Houck recommends starting with a good combination winterizing treatment and pre-emergent weed killer application.
“We can come out and do that for customers for the cost of a little fuel, or we can loan them spreaders at no charge to do the job themselves if they buy the fertilizer here,” he said.
Other timely tasks to take care of include pulling existing weeds, reseeding lawns, mulching flower and garden beds, and trimming trees.
“You need to be sure you’re trimming the correct way by thinning out the lower branches evenly,” Houck mentioned. “You don’t ever want to ‘top’ a tree. We can explain how to do it, or you can hire a professional.”
Homeowners who want to keep visual interest going in their yards all year long have a wide choice of cool-weather annuals to consider. Need help? The Westview team stays busy with landscaping projects for customers all year long.
“Pansies are what most people like to plant right now, but mums and snapdragons will also last through the season, although they may not bloom after it gets too cold,” Houck said. “Ornamental kale and cabbage will also weather the winter extremely well.”
There’s no hard deadline to get winter yard work wrapped up, but Houck says “the sooner, the better” is always a good rule to follow.
“You don’t want to wait until after heavy freezes start hitting,” he said. “It’ll be harder to work the ground, and just less pleasant to be outside.”
It may sound counterproductive, but watering is an important way to keep grass and plants healthy through the cold-weather season, acting as a shield to insulate the soil and protect root systems. And it’s OK to leave some leaves in place to compost naturally if you feel so inclined.
“Most people clean them up just because it makes their yard look better, but it won’t hurt anything as long as water can get down to the grass,” Houck said.
Check out Westview Nursery’s standing Friday ad for weekly special pricing on plants, trees, shrubs and other products.
“We’ve got a lot of repeat customers because they know they’re not going to find the prices, the service and the products we offer anywhere else,” Houck said.
For more information and winter lawn care tips, visit Westview Nursery & Landscaping locations in Waco or Woodway, or go online to westviewnurseryandlandscaping.com.
