November, 2012

Even though the spring and summer flowers have faded and the leaves have changed from vibrant green to orange and red, this doesn’t mean that proper landscaping goes out the window. If you want to ensure that your yard looks just as beautiful during the winter months, keep the following in mind:

Use Berries for Color
Many bushes and trees that thrive during the winter months produce beautifully colorful berries that will add a festive look to your landscaping. Additionally, these berries are often a great food resource for local birds.

Consider the Hardscape of the Yard
The hardscape, or yard adornments, are often ignored during the summer months when the yard is full of flowering shrubs and annuals. Consider adding an arbor, bench, or trellis to your yard to add whimsical personality.

Fill Summer Pots and Containers
Annuals aren’t the only plants that can fill your pots and containers. Fill these with broadleaf evergreens, dwarf Alberta spruce, rhododendron, and holly during the winter. If you don’t want to purchase plants, cut some evergreen boughs and arrange them in a pleasing manner. The textures and colored berries will be sure to cheer your spirit and welcome others to your home.

Take Advantage of Four Season Perennials
Perennials that have year-round foliage are perfect for any garden. Plants, such as hellebores, dianthus, and ornamental grasses will add texture and green to your garden even in the coldest months.

The Beauty of Evergreens
Evergreens are a great asset to any winter yard. They add a wonderful array of colors. Although green may be the primary color you think of when you consider evergreens, they come in a variety of colors including blue and yellow. Regardless of the time of year, you should always have at least one evergreen in each garden bed.

Winter is also a great time to stock up on the non-plant elements you’ll need for the next year’s garden, Pierson says. “It’s a good time to bargain-shop for anything for the garden,” she says. Take a tape measure, research plants, figure out seeds you’ll need, and write down what worked and what didn’t in the current year.

For more winter landscaping advice call Brad Hull Landscaping at 860.388.4554 or visit us on the web at www.bradhulllandscaping.com

Brad Hull Landscaping services southeastern Connecticut including Old Saybrook, Clinton, Westbrook, Ivoryton, Essex, Madison, Guildford, Haddam, Old Lyme and Killingworth

Winter weather is harsh on plants, and many plants don’t survive in the cold, frosty climates. A lot of work goes into making a successful landscape, and it’s a shame when the hard work goes down the drain. Plants that can stand up to the brutal pounding of winter’s fury make the most sense to include in a yard or piece of property. Try these plants to keep your landscape alive throughout the dreary winter.

Apple trees look great, and they of course bear fruit. Apple trees are famous for being able to stand up to the cold better than almost every other plant out there. The temperatures would have to reach numbing proportions for them to wither away. You can count on an apple tree making it through to the next year every year. Apple trees are worth investing in.

Lilac bushes also regularly combat the cold and snow. The sweet-smelling, purple bushes are a favorite among many people in cold climates. When spring rolls around, you can be sure that you’ll eventually see those beautiful lilac bushes sprouting up from the ground. The bushes are also versatile and relatively inexpensive, so they make great additions to any landscape scheme. The purple colors will remind you why spring is such a great time to thaw out from the overcast, uncomfortable, cold part of the year.

Lenten roses invigorate many gardens in cold climates. You should consider planting them if you want to see a great plant with plenty of buds every year. These tough plants rarely succumb to the brutal elements of the winter months. They don’t require much care and maintenance either. Not only do they stand up to the cold, but they also draw compliments from people who visit your landscaping works.

Properly preparing your flower beds for winter will help ensure a healthy bed for spring. Debris from annual and herbaceous plants often become the winter home for disease and undesirable insects, which may then wreak havoc on your spring plants. Make time this fall to get your flower beds ready for winter.

Keep Watering
Even though the weather is cooler and plants don’t seem as thirsty as they did during the peak of summer, it’s important to continue watering your flowers. Once a week, give them a deep watering to help your perennials grow deep roots. Continue to water until the ground is too cold to hold it.

Remove Weeds
Leaving weeds in your garden over the winter is an open invitation for pests and disease. Remove all of the weeds in your garden and put them in your compost pile if they’re healthy; discard them if they show signs of pests or disease since the heat generated by your compost pile won’t kill pathogens.

Remove Annuals
Immediately after the first killing frost, remove all of your annuals from your beds. Healthy annuals can go in the compost; annuals that have signs of pests or disease should be discarded.

Cut Back Perennials
As your perennials lose their summer stamina and begin to yellow and wilt, cut them back to the soil. Perennials that winter well and add color to your yard can stay, but cut them back in early spring to encourage new growth.

Insulate Your Plants
The plants remaining in your garden beds need to be insulated to protect them from decaying when water accumulates at the roots. Wait until two frosts have occurred, then lay 2 to 3 inches of mulch around your remaining plants; be careful not to cover the actual plants.