Planning for a 4-season landscape
Winter is a great time to access your landscape for weak areas needing addressed. You can more easily see branches of trees and large shrubs to spot any broken branches or trouble spots that need to be pruned. Also, keep in mind that the winter landscape doesn’t need to be bland. With a bit of pre-planning, you can have an interesting landscape year-round. Here are some ways to help you do this:
Just because many trees and shrubs drop their leaves for the winter doesn’t mean they can’t be interesting. You just need to think of bark and stem color! Some of the better choices for our area are river birch with their cinnamon colored peeling bark and also Summer Wine Ninebark with its mottled bark texture and the brilliant Red Twig Dogwood which is exceptional when surrounded by a blanket of fresh white snow.
Evergreen trees and shrubs can come in many different colors as well! From bright yellows, such as the Gold Mop Cypress, light and dark greens from Boxwood, Taxus, Holly, and Bird’s Nest Spruce, to even crisp blues such as the Globosa Blue Spruce and Blue Rug Juniper. But shrubs aren’t the only evergreen to consider. Some perennials such as variegated and big blue liriope also have evergreen foliage and can create an eye-catching look poking up above a snowfall.
Berries can also add an exciting element to your plantings. From the striking red berries against the dark green background of the Hollies, to the bright orange berries of the pyracantha. Or if you are looking for a moderate sized tree for winter interest, check out the Winter King Hawthorn.
Hardscape items such as a bench or trellis can also add care-free 4 season interest.
Be sure to call Vogel’s Nursery to have one of our professionals answer any of your winter landscape questions and help you in adding interest to your winter wonderland!
Winter Care of your Plantings
Though now it is winter and plants are dormant, they still need occasional attention. A heavy or wet snowfall can mean broken or misshapen branches unless you are sure to remove some of the excess snow weight. Be careful when doing this on your evergreens as sometimes the snow removal does more damage than the snow. Use a broom in a soft upward motion and only if absolutely necessary.
While your large trees and deciduous shrubs are leafless, it’s a great time to inspect for broken branches and storm damage that was hidden by the foliage.
Although summer is over, drought stress may still be affecting your trees. It is important to continue properly watering your new trees and plantings. Roots will often continue to grow even as soil temperatures drop. For evergreens, it may be necessary to water during drought as leaves continue to lose moisture during winter.
Make sure your ice melt products that come in close contact to your landscape is plant safe. Salt is not. Possibly sand or even kitty litter may make a better choice that is much more plant friendly.
During the few warm spells, check for rodent damage and be sure to water those newer plantings if the weather has been dry.
Any new plantings have a 3-inch layer of mulch to aid in preventing quick freezes and thaws as these can be damaging to tender roots near the surface.
Avoid feeding roses in the fall and winter. Minor pruning to prevent snow load bending down the plants can be done in winter, but heavy pruning should wait for spring.
Some plants such as hydrangea blossoms and ornamental grasses can add interest to your landscape even when they have dried down for the year. You may want to wait for early spring to cut back these plants unless the winter bends them over.
Winter is also the perfect time to plan your landscape project for next year. Contact our professional staff to walk through and make maintenance recommendations or design a new planting plan for spring!
Plus, to make your holiday gift giving easy, remember to get your Vogel’s Nursery gift certificates!
You can always ask our professionals!
To set up an appointment for a design or estimate for your project,
call (937) 854-2497 or email designer@vogelsnursery.com
