Do's and don'ts for winter gardening

With the holiday season approaching, many trade time in the garden for time preparing for upcoming festivities in the kitchen and at the shopping center. Even as efforts move indoors, there are a few do's and don'ts to consider for landscapes.

· Do improve soil by adding compost to vegetable, perennial and shrub beds. But don't overdo it with fertilizer on lawns. Fertilizer applied to dormant grass is more likely to run off and pollute waterways than to feed turf. Instead try top-dressing with compost in the spring for a glorious lawn.

· Do add two to four inches of mulch to perennial and shrub beds to improve moisture retention and help prevent roots from freezing.

· Don't prune evergreen perennials and shrubs now. Pruning stimulates new growth, which can be damaged if there is a hard freeze.

· Do turn off irrigation systems through February. Native and adapted plants need little or no supplemental water during the winter. Also, reducing water use now will save money on wastewater bills all year long. Wastewater rates are determined by wintertime water use.

· Do remember to water landscape plants before a hard freeze to reduce plant stress.

· Don't use plastic sheeting to wrap plants during a freeze. Instead, use cloth sheets or blankets, which do a better job of protecting plants from freezing winds.

· Do consider planting a few pots with cold-hardy color such as pansies, snapdragons, stock, calendula and ornamental kale.

· Don't overseed with rye grass. Overseeding stresses lawns, requires lawn maintenance during a season when holiday celebration is preferable to lawn work. It also uses valuable water resources.

· Do plant a tree this winter. Now through February is ideal treeplanting season in Central Texas. Those who don't have a spot in their yard can join efforts with a local tree-planting group and support shady, green neighborhoods. Some of the most pleasant outdoor days in Central Texas occur during the winter months.