winter

The Top Choice Austin Landscaping Blog

Central Texas Winter Pruning & Cutback Guide

By Nolan Gore / January 27, 2026

How do you succeed with winter cutbacks in Central Texas? A little intentional work in mid to late winter pays off all year long. Done right, winter cutbacks lead to healthier plants, stronger spring growth, and a landscape that looks good sooner — not scraggly until April. That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Every…

How to Winterize Your Backflow Preventer

By The Top Choice Team / January 6, 2026

Folks around the country will often shut off and drain their irrigation systems entirely before the winter, but because we rarely get deep freezes, that’s not really necessary in Central Texas. However, we still need to protect any above-ground exposed equipment: pipes, pumps, filters, and backflow preventers! Proper insulation and winterization are especially important this…

How to Winterize your Irrigation System in Austin

By The Top Choice Team / January 6, 2026

Why do we winterize? We want to take care of our irrigation systems. Often times there are breaks in our systems after a long hard winter. Everyone knows that water expands when it freezes – we need to take this into consideration when we are preparing for the cold months. Make sure your system is…

Landscaping in December: The 8 Things Every Austin Homeowner Should Know (Plus a Bonus)

By Nolan Gore / December 9, 2025

Your Guide to Winter Roots, Watering, Weeds, Mulch, Trees & More — Austin, Texas Edition What You’ll Learn in This Guide This December guide will help you understand: If you understand these principles, you’ll prevent 80% of the issues Austin homeowners face each spring. 1. Soil Temps > Air Temps If you only remember one…

What to do about winter weeds in Austin Texas

By The Top Choice Team / September 30, 2025

Many people associate weeds with spring or summer when it seems like everything is coming to life. In fact, there are plenty of winter weeds in Texas that deserve our attention while temperatures are cool. Let’s look into what these weeds are and what you can do about them. Step 1: Identification Most weeds fall…

How to retain water in your landscape

By Nolan Gore / June 27, 2024

Despite consistent watering, your grass and plants are likely showing the strain of a long, hot Austin summer. What can you do? Luckily we’ve still got a few tricks up our sleeves to retain water — saving whatever moisture we can so your ground and plants don’t dry up. 1. Don’t waste water: inspect your irrigation…

Can Mulch Really Prevent Winter Weeds in Austin? (Video)

By Nolan Gore / January 24, 2024

Ever wonder why so many Texas landscapes use mulch? And when should you put down mulch in Austin? Well, we are well into the coldest month of the year. (January is coldest, December is 2nd coldest, February is 3rd).  What do you do when it gets cold?  You get a blanket.  What is a landscape…

Austin Gardeners’ Winter Landscaping Checklist

By The Top Choice Team / December 29, 2023

Howdy, Austin gardeners! Winter has settled in, and it’s time to ensure your yard is prepped for a successful spring bloom. In this winter landscaping checklist, we’re dishing out tips and tricks to keep your garden in top-notch shape. From freeze protection to leak detection and strategic tree care, let’s make sure your yard thrives…

Let’s Celebrate with Some Christmas Light Installation in Austin!

By The Top Choice Team / December 21, 2023

Well, we’re almost to the end of another big and busy year of Austin landscaping at Top Choice. We started the year with some limb-breaking ice storms and kept right on rolling through a record-breaking summer. Our lawns have really been through the ringer, but our crews have done an amazing job of keeping things…

Winter Fertilization in Austin: Winter Wisdom for a Spring Spectacle

By The Top Choice Team / December 15, 2023

Hey there, Austin neighbors! Winter’s rolling in, but don’t hit pause on your lawn care just yet. In this blog, we’re diving into the laid-back world of winter lawn fertilization in Austin. It’s the secret sauce to a spring lawn that’s nothing short of spectacular. So, kick back and let’s chat about why your lawn…