Spring has arrived, and San Antonio landscaping experts advise homeowners to prioritize pruning, proper watering and selecting heat-tolerant plants.
SAN ANTONIO — As spring begins in San Antonio, landscaping experts say this is one of the most important times of year for homeowners trying to keep their yards healthy before the South Texas heat settles in.
At Moon Valley Nurseries, the message is simple: before planting something new, start by taking care of what is already in the ground.
Baron Eckhart, general manager at Moon Valley Nurseries, says this is the time to trim and prune trees and plants so they are ready for the growing season.
“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, this time of year, it’s really important and vital to start trimming and pruning all of your plants and trees,” Eckhart said. “That’s going to continue to encourage growth as we move into the springtime, which is the adequate growing time.”
Eckhart says watering is another area where many homeowners run into problems, especially as temperatures start climbing.
“So right now as we’re getting above 85 degrees, we should be about 2 to 3 times a week right now in a watering schedule. But a lot of people do, in this region that that doesn’t help their trees or plants get to their full potential.”
He says the issue is not always how often people water, but how deeply they do it.
“It’s not watering for a longer period of time. So the tree or plant has a longer period of time for it to soak up the water. Deep root water drainage is always best, and it encourages more growth.”
That kind of deep watering can help plants build stronger root systems ahead of the hotter months, when stress from heat and drought becomes more of a concern across South Texas.
The type of tree homeowners choose can also make a difference beyond curb appeal.
“If you got it closer to your home, it’s going to help with that radiated heat on your home to to save down on your your electric bill as well.”
For homeowners getting outside on the first day of spring, Eckhart says the focus should be on maintenance, watering correctly, and choosing trees and plants that can handle San Antonio’s climate.