Embrace the Cold: Gardening and Landscaping Projects for the Winter Months

Few people think of winter as the ideal time to start a gardening or landscaping project. However, landscape companies often slow down during the winter months, and can usually take on projects more quickly at very reasonable rates. 

While winter may put a pause on mowing, watering, and weeding, it is a great opportunity to start different types of landscaping projects that don’t require warm weather. Listed below are a few examples of yard and garden projects that can be started during the coldest months of the year.

Add some outdoor lighting

We’re not talking about Christmas lights here. Winter can seem unbearably long and cold. What better time to add some warmth and light to your yard. Whether you choose to add lights along your walkways or in your garden beds, well-placed lighting in your landscape will bring additional enjoyment to your front and back yard. Professional landscapers can help you choose the best options for your space, and install them safely and quickly.

Build a fire pit

There is nothing more cozy on a winter evening than a glowing fire. Outdoor fire pits provide a warm gathering spot during the harsh winter months, and can be constructed out of various materials. Whether you choose metal, bricks, concrete, or another material for your pit, professional landscapers can help you achieve the look and feel you want for your winter yard. Now all you have to do is snuggle under the blankets and watch the glowing warmth of your new fire pit.  

Install a new deck

The winter months are actually a perfect time for installing a new deck. Not only are materials and labor typically less expensive during the winter months, the cold weather offers other advantages for the wood being used. The cooler, less humid weather is better for pressurized wood, and helps it stabilize faster and dry more evenly. It also does less damage to the wood overall, as hot temperatures and sunshine can cause the wood to expand and crack. Best of all, if you have your new deck installed in the winter months, it will be ready for use long before the summer! 

Start seeds indoors

If you are planning to have a vegetable garden in the summer, starting vegetable seeds indoors during late winter is a great way to get a head start. The general rule is to start seeds about six weeks before the last frost in your area. This gives the seeds time to sprout and grow enough that they can survive outdoors when the time comes. There are many online guides that can help you figure out which types of seeds to start indoors, and how to do it properly.

Add a patio

Even though you are unlikely to use your patio in the height of winter, the coldest months of the year are a great time to add one. The cold weather often brings reduced material and labor costs, and is a great project for a professional landscaping service. Not only that, adding a patio in the winter prevents plants in your yard from being severely damaged by people and machinery. By adding a patio in the wintertime, you ensure that you’ll be able to use it once spring rolls around.

Build a retaining wall

Winter is a great time to install a retaining wall for your yard. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, a retaining wall can be constructed in any season. Like other cold weather landscaping projects, building a retaining wall can be completed more efficiently and at a lower price in winter than in warmer weather months. Not only that, completing a big project in the winter makes your spring and summer to-do lists even shorter. 

Create a walkway

Adding a paved walkway is another possible project for the winter months. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, pavers can be successfully installed to create a walkway for your yard. Because many landscaping businesses are less busy during the cold weather months, you are likely to have a shorter wait time for paver installation. Hiring a professional landscaper to install your walkway can help you avoid shifting and damage to your pavers.

Take care of snow and ice 

Taking care of snow and ice on your driveways and walkways is not a fun task. But it is an absolutely essential one. Unshoveled and untreated driveways and walkways can be a dangerous hazard for people and animals. If you’re not feeling up to the task, professional landscaping companies can easily make sure that your surfaces are clean, safe, and snow and ice-free.  Winter is a great time for many different gardening and landscaping projects. Taking on these projects when it is cold can save you time and money, and free up your to-do list in the warmer months. Don’t let the cold weather stop you from having the yard that you desire. 

At Blooms Landcare, we provide a wide range of landscaping services, from designing new landscapes to maintaining existing ones. Whether you need flower bed design or the installation of retaining walls and french drains, our team of landscape/hardscape experts will take every detail into account, ensuring that your job is done the right way.

We proudly serve the following cities in the Washtenaw County area: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Pittsfield Township, Saline, Ypsilanti, Superior Township, Jackson, Brooklyn, Irish Hills, Spring Arbor, Tecumseh, and Adrian. If you’re located in any of these areas and are in need of professional landscaping services, contact us today for a free consultation.