5 Late-Winter Lawn Care Tips for Jonesboro Homeowners (Before Spring Arrives)

Late winter is one of the most overlooked times for lawn and landscape care in Jonesboro, but what you do now can make a big difference once spring growth starts.

February is the window where cleanup, pruning, and preparation set the stage for a healthier lawn and landscape. Here are five smart things homeowners should focus on right now.

Finish Winter Pruning While Plants Are Dormant

Late winter is the ideal time to prune many trees and shrubs because they’re still dormant.

This is especially true for:

• Crepe myrtles

• Ornamental trees

• Non–spring-blooming shrubs

Pruning now encourages stronger structure, healthier growth, and better flowering later in the season. Waiting too long can mean cutting into new growth or stressing the plant.

Cut Back Ornamental Grasses Before New Growth Starts

Fountain grass and pampas grass should be cut back before fresh green growth emerges.

Best practice:

• Cut grasses down to about 6–12 inches

• Remove all dead material

• Clean up debris from beds

Doing this too late can damage new shoots and leave the plant looking uneven all year.

Clean Up Leaves and Winter Debris

Even though fall is over, many yards in Jonesboro still have:

• Leaves stuck in beds

• Debris trapped around shrubs

• Piled leaves in corners of the yard

Leaving this material in place can:

• Smother grass

• Encourage disease

• Create pest hiding spots

A late-winter leaf cleanup helps your lawn breathe and prepares it for spring growth.

Tidy Up Perennials Like Monkey Grass and Lilies

Plants like monkey grass (liriope) and lilies benefit from winter cleanup.

What to do:

• Trim monkey grass down to 2–3 inches

• Remove dead lily foliage

• Clear beds of old plant material

This improves appearance now and prevents damage to new growth later.

Hold Off on Spring-Blooming Shrubs

Not everything should be pruned in February.

Avoid pruning:

• Azaleas

• Hydrangeas (most varieties)

• Forsythia

These plants bloom on old growth, and pruning now can reduce or eliminate spring flowers.

Set Your Lawn Up for a Better Spring

Late-winter maintenance is one of the easiest ways to avoid problems later in the year. Proper pruning and cleanup now leads to healthier plants, fewer issues, and a cleaner-looking yard as spring arrives.

If you’d rather leave winter pruning and leaf removal to professionals, our team helps homeowners throughout the Jonesboro area prepare their landscapes for the season ahead.