When you want to make your backyard landscaping look great, there are some options to consider. You can go for something creative and elegant, or you can choose something more minimalist that requires less upkeep. The choice is yours, and it’s important to think about how you’ll use your backyard and the way you want it to look and feel when you spend time there. With some simple backyard landscaping options, you can choose something that will work well for you, won’t cost a lot and will look wonderful. But what do you do in cold weather? You still want to be happy with the look of your backyard, but that look will change when there’s a chill in the air. Here are some ways to keep you and your backyard happy when it’s cold outside.
1). Are there local plants that will thrive when it’s cold?
Depending on your climate and just how cold it gets, there may be plants you can count on to thrive in the wintertime. Keep in mind that winter in Florida is a lot different than winter in Ohio, so you’ll want to be sure any cold-hardy plants are designed for the region you live in. Cold is a relative term, depending on where you are, and you don’t want to harm plants that were never designed to survive in your location. If you do have plants that will make it through your winter, definitely put them to work in your backyard. That can keep the area looking great, while you wait patiently for spring to arrive and give you more plant and flower options.
Some plants really enjoy cold weather, and they will grow even if there is snow on the ground. Evergreens are good options for that, no matter what type of climate you’re in. Most people think of pine trees when they think of evergreens, but there are other trees that don’t lose their leaves in the winter. There are also evergreen bushes and plants, so you can have options that don’t involve a lot of height in your yard. Shrubs and plants that are closer to the ground can be great choices for the winter months, depending on what you’re looking for and the specifics that you expect your backyard to have. A local nursery can help you with plant selections for your region and climate, so they will grow as well as possible.
2). Is a Zen garden approach the right one?
When you buy a home that doesn’t have much landscaping, you may want to make some changes. For cold weather, a more minimalist, Zen type of rock or pebble garden can look great and be easy to maintain. Some people rake the pebbles into interesting and intricate patterns, while others just create a garden that essentially has pebbles or gravel where the grass would be and rocks of various sizes, types, and shapes where plants would commonly be seen. While that look isn’t for everyone, it can be a great way to ensure that your backyard has a style all its own. You also don’t need to worry about problems with cold weather, because rocks don’t care what the temperature is. They will look great before it gets cold, and after the snow melts, too.
3). Maybe simple would be best?
In many cases, the best landscaping is not much landscaping at all. You want to keep grass trimmed and bushes neat and orderly, but you don’t need to get too elaborate. Some large houses with winding driveways have a lot of landscaping, but most people live in more modest dwellings. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about your backyard or what it looks like, but only that it’s important to remember that you have choices. When most things are dormant in the winter, it gives you a better picture of what your backyard would look like with a more minimalist design.
You may find that you really like that look, and that it works for you in a way you might not have expected. There’s nothing wrong with a more minimal look if that’s what makes you happy, whether you only keep if for cold weather or use it all year long. It’s a lot easier to maintain a minimalist design, too, meaning you’ll have more time for other hobbies and interests you might want to get involved in. That can help you have more fun in the winter months and really enjoy what the season offers, right there in your backyard.
4). Should you turn your focus to something besides plants?
The home that you decided to buy is a great place to put your touch on something that’s important to you. It’s possible to have some great winter landscaping that doesn’t even have anything to do with plants. When you decorate with color, you bring some brightness to a winter that might otherwise be very dreary. You can do that with decorations in your yard or on your fence. You can also consider a gazebo or other backyard structure where you can put up lights and add more color to the surrounding area. Whatever you envision for your backyard you can do, as long as you have the space. Cold weather is a great time to plan all of those things, because it gets you thinking about ways to make your yard look great that doesn’t involve grass and plants. When you get started imagining what else you could do, you’ll see that the options are nearly endless.
2 Point Highlight
For cold weather, a more minimalist, Zen type of rock or pebble garden can look great and be easy to maintain.
It’s possible to have some great winter landscaping that doesn’t even have anything to do with plants.
