Introduction
No doubt winter gives gardeners cold feet. Plant colors dissipate away, leaves start to fall and with nothing new to plant, enthusiastic gardeners usually become anxious. However, with some careful planning starting in spring and all throughout fall, this catastrophe can easily be avoided. However, you have to start at the beginning, which is the soil. All your landscaping attempts will be in vain if you fail to procure the right topsoil, which you can easily get by Googling ‘topsoil near me’. Just order a bag two, spread them over your garden and you will be ready for the next step in the process.
The Trends
- Start with the berries– Berries are one of the most resilient plants in nature. They can hold their own, even though Fall’s dry and ready climate. Campers or mountain explorers often keep an eye out for berry bushes because they can grow in quite a few harsh environments. Moreover, berries not only make your winter garden look beautiful, but they also act as a food source for birds and small rodents, who also have a hard time procuring a reliable food supply.
One of the best berry bushes you should plant is the crabapple as they hold onto their fruits. If you are looking for a second plant, then consider the winterberry holly with bright red berries and thick green foliage, which offers a great contrast to the white snow. In case you have some space left, the cranberry viburnum is also a great choice. It usually has white flowers in spring and yields red berries during the winter. The foliage also changes color from deep red to pulse which will make your garden look beautiful all throughout the Fall.
- Time to work on the bark– Although deciduous trees lose all leaves during winter, you can still work on the bark. According to experts, some trees possess unique barks that can be visually distinguished from their neighbors. You can either work towards highlighting those features or subtly create patterns that suit the surroundings. Birch trees and dogwoods are perfect for this role as they offer great color and texture for you to work with. However, birch and yellow birch trees are especially beautiful thanks to their visually distinct white barks.
Working on the bark can also be challenging. Because you are not working with nature and what you have to make instead of bringing in other plants. If you are an artist or somebody who likes to experiment with different design elements, this is the perfect opportunity to break out of your shell and let your imagination take the wheel.
- Stick to evergreens– The best way to cheat at winter landscaping is to take the evergreen route. There is a common misconception that evergreen trees are only available in green, which is not true. You can get evergreen plants in a wide variety of colors such as yellow, blue, gold and, etc. the dwarf blue spruce is a great example of blue-colored evergreen plants that live throughout Fall. If you prefer brighter colors, then go for the Gold Thread false cypress.
Although evergreen plants are great for winter landscaping, they can be used throughout the year as a chief focal point for your garden. The best way to go about doing this is to plant a group of one or two evergreen plants in the middle and keep planting other trees surrounding the border of the group. They are a testament to your landscaping efforts and will be there throughout the year to showcase your landscaping efforts throughout the year.
- Time to focus on the garden decorations– Winter highlights the barebones of your garden, making it the best time to focus on decorating your garden. Landscape not only comprises plants and trees. You can supplement the beauty of the garden by adding a bench, trellis, an arbor, or even some garden sculptors that will go nicely.
If you like to play with the night shadows, then you can even add a few landscaping lights such as floodlights or post lights if you want to showcase a large area. In case you prefer a more localized approach, then go for inground and spotlights.
Spotlights are great for highlighting large tree structures. You can place a bunch of them all over your trees for the sleuthing effect that will surely grab the attention of anyone passing by. Spotlights are perfect focal plants of your garden, such as the evergreen plants group mentioned in the earlier point. If you have a gravel path on your lawn, then consider inground lighting because not only it highlights the path texture, but it also creates a great bit of contrast between the garden and your path.
- Create a birdhouse– Live and let live. One of the best and kindest things you can do this winter is building a birdhouse for the numerous homeless little critters. You can even encourage the community to take part in the event. The past two years have been nothing but bad news. Now that the world is slowly regaining its momentum, constructing a bunch of birdhouses is possibly the best way to end the year on a note of kindness.
A perfectly placed birdhouse or even a feeder will liven up your garden and distinguish it from the several hundred other lifeless landscapes out there. The garden may grant you relief from mundane and gray wintry surroundings, but a birdhouse not only provides refuge to helpless creatures but also gives you joy from doing a good deed.
Conclusion
Landscaping enhances the overall curb appeal and helps create a homely and welcoming atmosphere for anyone approaching your home. It also inspires and spreads joy and love throughout the neighborhood. Thus, it’s a way to counteract the gray and gloom of winter. Landscaping is a testament to the end of yet another year, filled with both happy and sad memories. But no matter what you plan on doing with your lawn/backyard, you’d have to start with the soil, because, without a good foundation, nothing will work properly. To get your hands on top-quality soil search for ‘topsoil near me’ and take the first step towards winter landscaping.