Category: Environment

When landscapes start to thaw out after the recent winter weather, plants may look dead or severely battered from all the sleet and snow. Texas gardening expert and author Neil Sperry advises on his website to not “rush to judgment” and that in many cases, you won’t know the extent of winter freeze injury until plants try to leaf out in the spring. Even if leaves are browned, “don’t assume immediately that the plant will not produce new leaves from the old stem tissues.”

It’s mating season for both coyotes and bobcats in North Texas, so area residents may see an increase in sightings of the animals over the next few months, as they are part of the natural habitat of North Texas. Bobcats and coyotes rarely pose a threat to people, but domesticated pets such as small dogs and cats could be at risk if left alone or taken off their leash near natural areas.

The City of Richardson, in partnership with Republic Services, is offering this exclusive opportunity for residents to take a guided tour of the Republic Services facility in Plano, Richardson’s recycling processor. Participants will get an in-depth look at the recycling process, from material collection to sorting and processing, demonstrating the critical role recycling plays in environmental sustainability. 

Think there’s nothing to do in the garden in January? Especially with this mild winter (so far), there’s plenty to do to “keep your hands in dirt” and take care of your landscape. Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc. (DCMGA), a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, offers a Garden Task List for January at its website, tasks which include pruning, watering and soil enrichment. 

Did you know that the City of Richardson began a pilot program with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) last spring that offers free residential sprinkler system evaluations? The program is continuing in 2026 and is part of conservation efforts to protect our future water supply through more efficient water usage.   

If you want to meaningfully participate in Richardson’s recycling, it’s important to avoid being a “wish-cycler,” i.e. throwing something into the blue bag without being sure it can be recycled—just one wrong item can contaminate the whole bag, sending its entire contents to the trash.  

Help our water system stay clog-free (and save yourself hundreds of dollars in plumbing bills) by avoiding pouring leftover holiday cooking oil and grease down the drain. Instead, bring it to the City’s temporary cooking oil/grease drop-off site through Monday, Jan. 5 at the Municipal Service Center.  

Unpredictable temperatures in a typical North Texas winter may be confounding to new residents and anyone struggling to keep a landscape looking good—but free advice from local horticulture experts is just a click away.