What Makes a Successful Winter Landscape?

Winter is right around the corner and that means cold temperatures and snowy yards for homeowners in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC area. This can have a harmful impact on your landscape if you don’t have plantings and hardscapes that can thrive in the local climate and create year-round interest.

Just because the seasons have changed, doesn’t mean your landscape has to be dull and dreary. At Botanical Decorators, we know what comprises a successful winter landscape and can help you execute the right design elements in style.

The Most Beautiful Winter Landscapes:

Establish visual interest.

It’s easy to create elements of color and establish visual interest in spring and summer. But when winter rolls around, the dip in temperatures limits your choices and can make it more challenging.

Choosing the right mix of plantings is critical to creating the right degree of visual interest. While many perennials are dormant in the winter, shrubs like Red Twig Dogwood and Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’ offer beautiful shades of red colors. Consider as well Witch Hazel, which produces vibrant yellow flowers in late winter months, and Hellebores for white, pink, or red blossoms.

Have the right hardscape elements.

A successful winter landscape has the right hardscape elements in the right locations to avoid drainage issues and excess snow. Consider:

• An outdoor fireplace or fire pit for an enhanced aesthetic and to provide warmth and light in your outdoor space
• Water features for added drama and flair amidst the surrounding snow
• Arbors, pergolas, or trellises for architectural interest

Have proper drainage in place.

Improper drainage can lead to damaged hardscapes and devastated gardens come the snowy days of DC area winters. It can also result in ugly puddles that make your landscape appear dreary. Prevent these issues by installing a drainage system suited to your property before severe weather strikes.

Create Your Winter Landscape in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC

If you’re ready to create a winter landscape with stunning views in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC area, we can help. Botanical Decorators has years of experience and expertise in landscape design that has resulted in numerous local and national awards. We have extensive knowledge of the elements needed for a successful winter landscape in the local climate and can provide you with more recommendations after a detailed analysis of your landscape.

To see how we can help you, contact us today for your design consultation.