Preparing Your Landscape for a Michigan Winter

As the summer and fall seasons come to a close, it’s important to take the time to consider the impact the winter will have on your home and yard. By thinking about it in advance, you’ll be able to prepare yourself and make necessary changes, alterations and overhauls before it gets unbearably cold. The sooner you work on landscaping projects for your home, the better and more comfortable you’ll be in the long run.

Consider these suggestions when thinking about how you can update your property to improve the landscaping of your home with winter in mind:

Prepare and Envision

Take some time to begin envisioning what you would like your home and landscape to look like for Michigan’s winter season. Whether you decide to landscape for functional purposes or to set a special scene, you’ll want to begin with knowing the general idea of what you want your landscape to look like. Before any decorating can begin, you first need to prepare your outdoor space for the frigid temperatures; This includes covering any shrubs, such as box woods, from the heavy weight of snow, drying out a water fountain and covering it, and removing any dead leaves and twigs from your lawn and garden. Now that your landscaping is cleaned and prepared for cold weather, you can begin planning your wintery wonderland.

Use Winter-Inspired Decor

In order to bring out the true spirit of winter, consider incorporating classic evergreens, trees with winter-white bark, holly with red colored berries, ivy, and other plants that keep their leaves a glossy green throughout the coldest, harshest parts of the season. Add urns on either side of your front door and pathway filled with leafy greens to create a wintery, warm welcome for your guests. Now is also the time to determine if you would like to add string lights among your landscaping, such as in the trees and in the shrubs. Figure out where you would like them incorporated and have someone help you string them. Don’t forget to plug in the string lights before installing them to be sure every single bulb works.

Plan During any Season

You don’t need to wait until winter has arrived before you start making changes to your landscape. The sooner you plan, the better off you will be. You’ll have more time to work on your desired projects and won’t be rushing to get them done before the bitter cold arrives. Each season deserves pre-planning and organizing to create a healthy looking landscape. Start by surveying your yard to determine which components need to be cleaned and prepared for winter well before the first snowfall arrives.