Winterizing Your Yard in Shreveport, LA: A December Guide

As winter settles into Shreveport, it’s time to prepare your yard for colder weather. While Louisiana winters aren’t severe, they can bring freezing temperatures that can damage plants and lawns if you’re not careful. Here’s how to protect and maintain your landscape in December.

1. Prep Your Lawn for Dormancy

• Mowing: Your grass growth slows in December, so mow less often, and keep your blade slightly higher to protect the grass.
• Fertilizing: Apply a winterizer fertilizer to strengthen roots and prepare for spring growth.
• Weed Prevention: Use a pre-emergent herbicide to combat weeds like henbit and chickweed, which thrive in winter.

2. Mulch to Protect Roots

Spread 2–3 inches of mulch around trees, shrubs, and flower beds. Mulching helps retain moisture and keeps roots insulated during chilly nights.

3. Cover and Move Delicate Plants

Shreveport winters can bring frost, so take these precautions:

• Cover sensitive plants with frost blankets or old bedsheets when freezing weather is predicted.
• Move potted plants indoors or to a garage to protect them from the cold.

4. Prune Strategically

• Trim dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs, but avoid heavy pruning of flowering plants. Wait until late winter or early spring to shape these.
• Crepe Myrtles: Avoid topping your crepe myrtles—this practice weakens the plant. Instead, remove thin or crossing branches as needed.

5. Check Irrigation Systems

Winterize your irrigation system by draining water from hoses and sprinklers to prevent freezing damage. Disconnect and store any equipment not in use.

6. Don’t Forget Your Garden Beds

• Plant cold-hardy vegetables like kale, carrots, and garlic in raised beds for a fresh winter harvest.
• Remove any dead annuals and add compost to enrich the soil for spring planting.

With these tips, your Shreveport yard will stay healthy and protected through the winter. December is also a great time to plan ahead—start thinking about spring landscaping projects so you’re ready to hit the ground running when the weather warms up.