When winter arrives and blankets everything in frost and snow, it’s easy to think of your garden as going dormant. But who says your yard has to hibernate all season? With a little creativity and our landscaping expertise, your outdoor space can become a showstopper — even when temperatures drop.
From the timeless beauty of evergreens to the charm of colorful winter-blooming plants, there are endless ways to make your landscape come alive. Add to that the sturdy elegance of hardscaping elements and the cozy appeal of seasonal planters and containers, and you’ve got a recipe for a winter wonderland that’s both stylish and inviting.
When your flowers are no longer in bloom and the last of the foliage has fallen from the trees, evergreens add structure, texture, and winter interest to your landscape before the spring arrives.
We recommend incorporating evergreens of varying heights into your landscape to make your outdoor space attractive from multiple angles during the winter months — with the added bonus of creating a foundation for a lively yard and garden next spring.
For example, tall upright evergreens like arborvitae can be a good partner for shorter and bushier evergreen shrubs, like the dwarf spruce. To fill in gaps closer to the ground, try a ground cover plant like juniper.
In addition, these plants boast a far more unique range of colors than the vibrant green you’d expect from their name.
The icy blue-green of the blue spruce perfectly evokes the feel of the winter season, while the hardy golden cypress adds a pop of color in a beautiful golden-green hue. The green leaves of the variegated holly, punctuated by creamy-white edges, add softness to an otherwise harsh landscape.
And even during the dormant winter months, the pinecones and berries produced by certain species of evergreens, such as the pine tree and American holly, add an extra flourish. These can even be repurposed into holiday decor that turns your home into a winter wonderland.
For example, greenery can serve as the foundation for seasonal window boxes, transformed into garlands or fashioned into a festive wreath that looks stunning when illuminated by outdoor lighting.
In Massachusetts, not all blooms disappear when the freezing temperatures arrive. There are numerous types of flowering plants that refuse to be deterred by cold weather that you can incorporate into your landscape design, such as:
Just like their spring- and summer-blooming counterparts, flowering winter plants also require their own attention and care to thrive in your winter garden.
You can protect the plants’ roots with a layer of mulch, and adhere to a minimal watering schedule that accounts for snowfall and frozen ground. A professional landscaping company can help you design the optimal care plan for plants like these to thrive during harsh weather.
A hardscape such as a walkway, patio, fire pit, outdoor fireplace or retaining wall boost your home’s curb appeal year-round. During the colder months, these hardscaping elements can become a focal point of your yard.
Many homeowners we’ve worked with are surprised to learn how far into the season a hardscape can be built. A new hardscape project is possible until the ground has frozen; in Massachusetts, this can occur as late as early December.
Many of our clients have enjoyed completing their hardscape during a time of year when not many other landscape projects can be tackled. Because a hardscape project can be a significant interruption to your yard, it’s ideal to get this out of the way now to avoid interrupting the growth of your spring plantings.
Illuminating your landscape during the cold months isn’t limited only to your festive holiday lighting. An outdoor lighting plan elevates your landscape design at any time of year — but especially so during the winter months, when nightfall arrives early.
Placing lighting under trees, evergreens and shrubs draws the eye to your home, adding to its aesthetic appeal. Winter-flowering plants like the varieties we highlighted above benefit from a warmer, softer lighting that accentuates their beauty while allowing their blooms to take center stage.
Adding pathway lighting, such as LED stake lights, gives your home a warm, welcoming glow. Beyond its attractiveness, pathway lighting also improves the safety of your walkways, which is especially important during the slippery conditions of the winter.
We recommend that you save your solar-powered pathway lights for the spring and summer, as the shorter days of winter can make it a challenge for them to charge properly.
By working with a landscape design company like Moodscapes, you can benefit from the expertise that will have your landscape look stunning at any time of the year. With our 30+ years of experience, we can guide you on the best choices to thrive in the Massachusetts climate while suiting your personal style.
For more information about designing a custom landscape for your home, download our free ebook, Personalized Landscape Design: Why You Should Leave It to the Professionals. You also can contact our team here to schedule a complementary discussion about the landscape project you are envisioning