So many people can’t wait for the arrival of spring to begin planning their newest landscaping architecture ideas. But why should you let almost half the year go to waste? Especially if you live in colder areas, like Colorado or Minnesota, winter landscaping is important to maintain the quality of your yard and home.
Many people look outside and think that nature “closes down” for the winter, but this couldn’t be any more untrue. While the winter months can present unique challenges for landscaping enthusiasts, the season also presents unique opportunities for landscape design in Minneapolis (or wherever you are), as you seek to keep the beautiful scenery for the entire year.
Here, we take a look at some tips for your winter landscaping needs that will help you maintain your yard even during the coldest of days. While there are many considerations to make depending on the local weather and where you live, these tips should give you some good places to start in keeping your yard healthy and beautiful in the winter.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Just like the rules of real estate, effective landscaping comes down to understanding your location and local climate. There are common winter tips for landscaping success, but winter looks a lot different in Colorado as compared to Florida, right? The length and duration of the colder months varies dramatically so you want to have a firm understanding of what a typical winter is like in your area. If you’re new, this is a great opportunity to strike up conversations with your neighbors and learn from the locals. Elevation, precipitation, wind, and dryness are also factors to consider when picking out the fauna that will decorate your yard.
MAINTAINING YOUR YARD
Your yard may not look its best in the winter months, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of it still. First, you want to make sure that you keep watering your yard. While you won’t need as much moisture, grass can still die in the winter months if not properly maintained. This is also true for your plants, shrubbery, and trees. If trees, especially, are not properly watered they have a much higher risk of disease.
You also want to make sure you fertilize your yard before the first big freeze of the season. Using fertilizer in your yard before winter hits will ensure quality nutrients remain in the sole and your grass will arrive even greener in the spring.
WINTER FLOWERS
Even in the coldest winter months, there are still many types of winter flowers that bloom and provide your yard with that rare dash of cold-weather color. Determining which type of winter flower will bloom in your yard depends on where you live so you’ll want to do your research. Some common winter flowers, however, include snowdrops, pansies, winter jasmine, witch hazel, and honeywort.
WINTER TREES
A yard full of leafless trees can be a welcomed sight when you’re used to vibrant greens and then fall colors. However, if you choose the right trees for your landscaping project, you can ensure you’ll have color throughout the entire year. Try to mix in some coniferous or evergreen trees with your deciduous ones so that you’ll have green to balance the bare branches.
Any type of pine tree works well for winter months and these are often hardier for cold temperatures. Additionally, firs and spruces come in a variety of sizes and varieties to complement your winter yard.
COVER UP YOUR BARK
Young trees or trees with thin bark, such as birches and aspens, are especially susceptible to winter damage. This damage is not exactly caused by the extreme cold, but rather, fluctuations in temperature. Even in the winter, direct sunlight exposure can warm up plants and trees. But when they lose that sun, the temperature drops quickly. This up and down in degrees, called sunscald, causes stress for the tissue of the bark, which can damage or even kill the tree. That’s why you’ll want to consider covering up the trunks of any trees that you think could be at risk.
WINTERIZE YOUR SPRINKLERS
If you have a sprinkler system in your yard, you’ll definitely want to prepare it for the cold months by “winterizing” your sprinklers. What does this mean? To prevent your sprinkler pipes from freezing and breaking, you need to ensure any excess moisture is removed. The most common way to do this is by shooting compressed air through the pipes, effectively cleaning them out and ensuring your sprinklers will be ready to go come springtime.
LIGHTING DISPLAYS
While the spring and summer months offer the widest variety of color, consider using lighting fixtures and displays to enhance the glow of your winter yard. Christmas lights, of course, seem to be sticking around longer each year, but there is a wide variety of lighting options for your hard outside of the holiday season. Lighting your yard in the winter can really bring the white of the snow to life. Additionally, a well-lit yard is also safer for you and your entire family.
CONCLUSION
The winter season shouldn’t be overlooked for your landscaping needs. We may not get out as much in the colder winter months, but that doesn’t mean your yard can’t still be a beautiful space. Use the winter to prepare your yard for the upcoming spring by fertilizing, pruning, and maintaining flowers and trees. But you should also enjoy the season for what it offers and think of unique landscaping ideas that will enhance your yard and home. We hope you turn your space into a winter wonderland with some of these winter landscaping tips.
