When winter settles in across Dallas–Fort Worth, most homeowners assume landscaping is “on pause” until the weather warms up. But here’s the truth every landscape designer knows: winter is the smartest time to plan your spring landscape.

Whether you’re dreaming of fresh beds, vibrant color, a new patio, or a full backyard redesign, starting early gives you the best results — and often saves you time, money, and stress once spring hits.

1. Skip the Spring Rush

Spring is landscaping’s busy season. By the time March arrives, designers, installers, and material suppliers are fully booked.

Planning now means you get:

• Better scheduling flexibility

• Faster turnaround times

• Priority access to materials

• More one-on-one attention during design

You avoid the bottleneck that happens when every homeowner realizes at once that their yard needs help before summer.

2. Winter Gives You a Clearer Picture of Your Yard

Winter strips away distractions — leaves fall, perennials die back, and seasonal color fades. While that may seem like a drawback, it’s actually the perfect time to assess the structure and bones of your landscape.

Designers can clearly see:

• Grading issues

• Drainage problems

• Bare spots

• Areas lacking balance or texture

• Paths where sunlight naturally falls

This makes winter design work more accurate and efficient.

3. Beat the Heat (and the Mosquitoes)

In DFW, once May hits, the heat ramps up fast. Planning in winter allows for installations in late winter or early spring, when the weather is milder and more comfortable for outdoor work.

This means:

• Less disruption to your home life

• Faster installations

• Better working conditions (which often leads to cleaner, more precise work)

  
  

4. Plants Establish Better When Installed Early

Many Texas-tough plants — shrubs, perennials, trees, and even sod — establish stronger root systems when planted in late winter or early spring.

This gives them time to settle before the triple-digit heat arrives.

Designing now ensures:

• Plant availability before spring shortages

• Better survival rates

• Healthier, more vibrant growth come summer

  
  

5. You Can Plan for Spring Color Now

While winter may feel gray, it’s actually the perfect moment to sketch out your spring and summer color.

Your design plan can include:

• Seasonal annual beds

• Flowering shrubs like azaleas and hydrangeas

• Texas-friendly perennials

• Accent trees that bloom in spring

By the time the nurseries are stocked, you’ll already have a plan ready to go.

6. More Time = Better Design

The best landscapes aren’t rushed — they’re curated.

Winter gives you (and our design team) the breathing room to consider:

• Layout

• Plant pairings

• Shade vs. sun needs

• Hardscape placement

• Long-term growth

• Budget and phasing

Planning early leads to more thoughtful, intentional spaces.

7. Your Spring Project Is Ready Exactly When You Want It

Instead of waiting until May or June for a first consultation, planning in December–February allows you to:

• Have your design approved early

• Get on the schedule before spring fills up

• Start installation right when the temperatures warm

• Enjoy your yard all spring and summer — not start the project then

Timing is everything, especially in Texas.

Ready to Start Planning? Let’s Get Ahead of Spring.

At Complete Landscape & Design, winter is one of our favorite times to create the blueprint for your dream yard.Whether you’re envisioning clean modern lines, low-maintenance Texas plants, or a complete backyard transformation, planning now ensures you get the best results just in time for spring.

Want a spring-ready landscape? Let’s start your design today.