Don’t let winter blahs get you down when you look at a dreary landscape. Even if your landscape is decorated for the holidays, your landscape can be beautiful and even cheerful once the decorations have been taken down and winter’s icy grip is still in full force. Here are some winter landscape ideas from a garden nursery near me in Rockland County and Ulster County, NY.
A Fire Feature
Sitting by the fire, wrapped in a warm blanket and sipping hot cocoa, can be even more magical outdoors. You’ll need a generously sized fire feature that’s big enough for everyone to gather around and share the warmth. If your space allows for it, consider a fire pit surrounded by high-backed masonry seating. This fire pit area will be cozy and warm thanks to the heat-absorbing into and radiating off the masonry seating - especially if you use a wood fire, which generates more heat than a gas fire. Be sure to add firewood storage close to the fire pit, and have a place nearby where you can plug in an electric kettle and store cozy blankets.
Even on a tiny patio, you can tuck an outdoor fireplace into a corner; or, do away with a traditional dining table and install a fire table, which combines dining and fire in one.
Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
The most prominent features in most landscapes are trees and shrubs. When at least some of these are evergreens, you will have built-in color. Evergreens - whether they feature needles (spruces, firs, and pines for example) or leaves (boxwoods and holly, for example) - tend to be very dense, which also makes them excellent windbreaks and living privacy screens. Plant them on the windward side of your property to keep your landscape warmer, and wherever you want to block a view or add privacy.
Updated Landscape Lighting
With the short days and often cloudy skies, the right lighting can make all the difference, transforming a bleak landscape into an attractive space. The most important lighting centers around safety, so be sure that the parking area on your driveway and your front entry walkway is well-lit. Use low-lying pathway lighting to direct light where it’s needed most, and finish the look by using several different lighting techniques throughout your landscape to create a less drastic contrast between the dark areas and the well-lit areas. Less is more with lighting, and our experts will help you choose the right strategies and fixtures to create a pleasing landscape.
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs with Colorful Bark
Once the leaves have fallen, you may think there won’t be many colors in your deciduous trees and shrubs. There will be if you choose those with interesting bark. Dogwood, oak, ninebark, Higan cherry, ironwood, and maple feature more brightly colored bark; but don’t discount the stark beauty of the white-and-black bark of aspen or birch trees. On a grey day, these really pop.
Shrubs with Berries
Not only are berries important food sources for local birds and wildlife, but they also add pops of color to a landscape. Consider a variety of shrubs to liven up your landscape, for example, barberry, cotoneaster, dogwood, winterberry, chokecherry, cranberry, blueberry, holly, and crabapple.
Other Plants That Stay Colorful Throughout Winter
Sedum, hosta, kale, chard, camellia, pansies, crocuses, daffodils, and nigrescent can brighten up a winter landscape long after the glory of fall leaves has passed.
