When we design our landscape, we often think in terms of the beauty it brings in spring, summer and into autumn.  Most of us give very little thought to designing our gardens for interest and color year around.  Creating a landscape that includes interest throughout our long winter can be a challenge.  With some thoughtful planning, your gardens can be as alive during the winter as they are in summer.

Most winter interest in the landscape comes from the underlying structure of your landscape or garden.  This includes the stems, branches and the winter shapes of trees and shrubs.  It also includes structural elements in your landscape such as arbors, pergolas, statuary, and even boulders.

Additional winter interest in your landscape can come from the color and texture of stems and bark.  The stems of the Red-Twigged Dogwood and Willow, muted during summer, shine in winter, adding much needed color.  Many of our landscape shrubs serve us in several seasons.  The flowers of Hydrangeas catch snow and create the appearance of large snowflakes.  Viburnums, Winterberry, Chokeberry and Elderberry display their showy fruit.  Sumacs and Burning Bush show off their architectural forms best in winter.   With their leafless silhouettes, trees add an important architectural element to the landscape.  The bark of many trees, such as Birch, Cherry and Oak becomes very noticeable in winter against a snowy landscape.

Evergreens are very important in the winter landscape, bringing color and structure with their columnar, pyramidal, arching, and globe forms.  Often in the background during the summer, evergreens become dominant in winter, softening an otherwise stark landscape.

Ornamental grasses take the stage in winter.  Little Bluestem, Karl Foerster, Switch Grass, Indian Grass and Flame Grass have strong, structural forms, adding movement and a fountain-like appearance to the landscape.  The strong stems of perennials such like Sedum, Coneflower, Rudbeckia, and Astilbe, stand up in snow, often peaking through the snow cover with snow caps.

Our landscapes need not look drab and lifeless in winter.  Take a look at your landscape this spring, with an eye towards next winter.  Make a plan to add plants that bring beauty all year around.

Landscaping for Birds and Other Wildlife

Bird watching and feeding the birds is a year around hobby enjoyed by many.  During the long months of winter, the sight of birds is even more appreciated.  With a simple feeder and a reliable source of seed, birds will visit all year around.

Attract even more birds to your yard by incorporating wildlife attracting plantings into your landscape.  When selecting trees and shrubs this spring, consider those that will provide food, shelter, and nesting places for birds.  Oaks, Maples, Cedars and Birch are good choices for larger trees.  Hawthorns, Crabapples, Fruit Trees, and other smaller ornamentals provide fruit for many species.  Evergreens provide nesting places for birds and year around shelter from the weather and predators.

Dogwoods, Viburnums, Sumacs, Winterberries, and Elderberries all provide an important source of food and shelter for wildlife.   Ornamental Grasses and the seed heads of many perennials provide seed.  Natives are always a good choice for attracting wildlife.

Diversity is important when creating a landscape to attract wildlife.  Incorporate a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers that bloom at different times of the year.

With thoughtful landscaping, you will enjoy the delights of nature in your own backyard and create a landscape that is alive all year around.

Linder’s Landscaping can help you design and install a landscape that you can enjoy all year around.   Please call 651-255-0443 for more information about our design, installation, and consultation services.