Winter landscaping is an important aspect of maintaining the health and look of your yard. While winter landscaping includes winter lawn care, it isn’t limited to shoveling the snow out of your yard. Winter is a time that allows you to be creative when landscaping your yard.  Read on for a few tips and tricks to get your yard looking like a winter wonderland!

Add Winter Friendly Plants

One of the most common ways to spruce (hint hint) up your winter landscaping is to add winter-friendly plants to your yard. When choosing plants for your yard, there are a few things to keep in mind. The plant should not be so small that it becomes lost after a heavy snow. Colorful berries and bark with interesting patterns will add color and texture to your yard. Choose plants that work with the layout of your garden.

Choosing the type of plants to add to your winter landscaping may be the hardest part. The layout of your landscaping will play a major factor in the types of plants you choose. Is part of your yard in the shade all day? Or perhaps your entire yard is in direct sunlight 90% of the day? Choose plants that are appropriate for you yard and the climate you live in, whether that’s harsh winters or a few snow falls each year.

While we’ve told you what to look for in plants, you might be stumped on the plant options you have for winter landscaping. The many types of evergreen shrubs can add color to your yard even in the coldest season. Evergreen shrubs can range in color for dark green to a golden hue. Other popular plants that can add a pop of color to you yard include Christmas holly, Lenten roses, and winterberry holly.

Add Trees and Ornamental Grasses

Trees and ornamental grasses are another option for adding pizazz to your winter landscaping. Red osier dogwoods and birch trees are popular choices. Red osier dogwoods are known for the dark red bark creating a stark contrast to a snow-covered yard. Ornamental grass, such as plume grass, is a simple but eye-catching way to add a little something extra for even the most barren of yards.

Add Mulch to Your Landscape Again

Even if you are planting greenery that is made for the winter, it’s important to properly care for them. One of the easiest and low maintenance ways to care for your winter plants is to protect them with mulch. Adding a 2-inch layer of mulch to the base of your plants will help reduce the amount of water lost from your plants during the winter, as well as moderate temperature and discourage pests.

When getting creative with your winter landscaping ideas, you might realize you don’t want the hassle of plants. If not, then add to your landscape with hardscape ideas. A trellis or an arbor might be the missing piece to your winter wonderland. A firepit can add a touch of warmth to your yard on those chilly evenings. Don’t limit yourself to plants when winter landscaping – get creative.

Add Small Decorations

The winter season also gives you plenty of opportunities to add decorations to your summer hardscaping. Have a wheelbarrow that you keep in your front yard full of flowers? Add a snow family pretending to ride in the wheelbarrow down a hill. Flowerpots hanging from your windows? Plant some of the winter greenery mentioned above.

Connecticut outdoor living doesn’t end when the snow starts falling. Turning your yard into a winter wonderland doesn’t have to be a hassle or extremely time consuming. Interested in learning more about winter landscaping and lawn care? Contact us or stop in to one of our locations today.