You may assume that landscaping efforts go into hiatus during colder weather. While it’s tempting to think of winter as a dormant season for your outdoor spaces, winter landscaping can actually bring a fresh perspective to your yard. With a few thoughtful changes, you can create a landscape that stands out for its structure, texture, and subtle seasonal beauty, even on the chilliest days.
Curious to learn more? Here are our 7 practical tips to keep your winter landscape looking its best throughout the season.
1. Incorporate Evergreens for Year-Round Color
Winter is often associated with a blanket of white, giving it the charm of a “White Christmas.” However, if an all-white landscape feels too monotonous for you, evergreens provide the perfect solution. These winter-ready plants provide lush greenery throughout the year. Whether you choose to go with common juniper, blue holly, or compact boxwoods, evergreens offer structure and a pop of green color that keeps your yard looking lively, even in the whitest winter.
2. Add Hardscaping Features for Winter Enjoyment
Outdoor Fire Pits and Seating Areas
Given the cold temperatures, you may be reluctant to spend time outdoors. However, a cozy outdoor set-up can change all that. Adding a warm, inviting fire pit paired with comfortable seating creates the perfect spot to enjoy your yard during winter. Choose snow-friendly features made of durable materials like stone or concrete that provide functionality and warmth, making your winter landscape a welcoming retreat for family and friends.
Patios and Walkways Designed for Snow Management
Thoughtfully designed patios and pathways are essential features that enhance the visual appeal of your winter landscape and make navigating your outdoor space safer and easier. Before tackling any hardscaping project, carefully opt for materials that provide good traction in icy conditions, such as textured stone or stamped concrete. Also, consider incorporating gentle slopes or built-in drainage systems for your walkways to prevent water and snow accumulation.
3. Use Decorative Lighting for a Cozy Ambiance
Decorative lighting is a simple yet effective way to elevate your landscape. String lights, lanterns, or other light fixtures will bring a soft, warm glow that will instantly transform your outdoor space into a warm and welcoming retreat. Focus on highlighting your landscape’s unique features, like trees, shrubs, and architectural detail. However, if you’re worried about using too much energy, you can still get the ambiance you’re longing for by opting for LEDs or solar-powered lights instead.
4. Incorporate Winter-Ready Plants and Planters
Winter-ready plants like Iceland poppies, cornflowers, and snapdragons will survive and thrive in colder conditions, adding color to your yard when other plants are fading away. To achieve the best result in winter, however, we recommend preparing them in late fall before the frost arrives. Another tip is to pair them with weather-resistant planters made of ceramic or metal and place them where everyone can see them.
5. Mulch and Protect Garden Beds
As your plants are outside enduring the freezing weather day after day, mulching is becoming a winter landscaping task you should do to protect them. Applying a layer of mulch around your garden beds helps insulate the soil, regulate its temperature, and prevent extreme freeze that can damage the roots. Mulch will also make sure they stay hydrated even though there is a scarcity of water and get rid of unwanted weeds.
6. Attract Wildlife with Bird Feeders and Water Sources
This cold, sometimes freezing, season can be challenging for wildlife to survive. That is why setting up bird feeders filled with much-needed food like seeds or nuts when natural options are limited and water sources with handy heaters are two good deeds you can do to help other species thrive. These simple yet impactful winter landscaping efforts not only support local wildlife but also add lively movement and charm to your winter landscape.
7. Plan Ahead for Spring Growth
Prune Trees and Shrubs
Even though this time of year is not the most motivating season to tackle winter landscaping tasks, the investment efforts you make now will pay off in a thriving outdoor space. By taking advantage of the dormant season, you can prune your trees and shrubs to prepare them for strong growth and lush greenery once spring has sprung. Also, this proactive step can minimize potential damage from heavy snow or ice.
Winter Fertilization and Soil Prep
The final tip in our winter landscaping guide focuses on giving your lawn and garden a solid foundation for vigorous growth when spring arrives. Start by aerating the lawn to alleviate soil compaction and boost nutrient absorption. Followed by the addition of compost or organic matter to enrich and enhance soil structure and finish with a winter-specific fertilizer designed to fortify root systems during the cold months.
Why Choose LandCrafters for Your Winter Landscape Needs
The reason is simple. With quality, attention to detail, and sustainable practice, our team at LandCrafters will help you design, build, and maintain a beautiful and functional landscape even during the chilliest seasons. From creating winter-ready landscapes with durable materials and hardy plants to maintaining vibrant outdoor spaces through expert pruning, we offer tailored solutions that suit your Milwaukee property’s unique needs all year round.
End Note
Winter may seem like the time to pause your landscaping efforts, but that can’t be further from the truth. In fact, winter is an ideal season to elevate your outdoor space, and following our tips on winter landscaping is how you can achieve that. With thoughtful planning and the right approach, your yard can remain vibrant, functional, and ready to impress even during the coldest months.
Contact us today to discuss your landscape needs and take the first step toward a more beautiful, inviting outdoor space.
