In the spring, summer, and early fall, plants add color and beauty to our gardens. In the winter, however, some homeowners panic when they see their outdoor areas become bare. Cold winter months can still mean stunning landscapes, although rather than working with plants and colors, landscaping professionals often work with shapes and colors. Since I founded Steven Vandora and Associates, I have helped clients create year-round gardens that look great in the cold months and in the warm weather.
When a first layer of snow covers your garden, the beautiful crisp white layer looks wonderful. Thawing and additional snow can mean a grey slush that does not look very inspiring. If you live in an area that does not see much snow, the bare ground and tired plants may not be very appealing either. Here are some tips that will help:
1) Add interest with trees. Deciduous trees and shrubs that shed their leaves for the winter look wonderful in the cold months, especially if their branches are twisted and contorted so that they are dramatic. Deciduous trees and shrubs can also look wonderful in winter because the lack of leaves brings more sun into your garden. Conifers keep their leaves in the cold winter months and can add a touch of green to your landscape. Through Steven Vandora and Associates, I like to help clients pick a mix of deciduous and conifer shrubs and trees. I’m especially fond of plants such as the Corkscrew Hazel, which has contorted branches that look very dramatic in a winter garden.
2) Steven Vandora speaks about lighting. Although we often associate landscape lighting with long summer nights, outdoor lighting is in fact even more important in winter, when the days are shorter. Good lighting highlights snow and texture and makes your winter garden less gloomy.
3) Add interest with structures. Add structures to your landscape that work well in the winter and the summer. A gazebo that offers shade in the summer can add color and a focal point in the winter. A wall that is covered with vines in the summer can be more visible in the winter. I suggest that clients do touch-ups late in the fall so that structures look fresh and attractive in the cold months.
4) Think color and texture when planting. If you live in a four season climate, think winter when you plant in the spring. Look for trees and plants that have unusual colors of bark and trees. The Cornus stolonifera, for example, has yellow branches that can add color to your garden. Also, consider plants that offer texture in the winter. Some ornamental grasses, for example, dry up but are still visible in the winter and add a lovely texture to most winter landscapes.
Always rely on professionals, like Steven Vandora and Associates!
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