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 by All Seasons

Container Planting

All Seasons specializes in arrangements for all your pots, planters and window boxes.  When designing plants and flowers for all your containers, All Seasons ensures your arrangements look full, lush and colorful from the start with the best plants for containers.  All seasons takes many factors into considerations on how to plant container plants:

  • Planters are an ideal way to add decoration and color throughout every season.  All Seasons manages and maintains planters year round for many clients, both residential and commercial.  Keeping your planters filled and looking good spring, summer, fall and winter is just another expert design service All Seasons provides.
  • All Seasons can cater to any color combinations you desire or make suggestions to complement your current landscape plan, house coloring, existing signage and container structure.  Because planter material changes with the seasons, they are a perfect way to try out uncommon and bright new color combinations.
  • Plant choice is critical when planning a design for outdoor planters.  All Seasons has the experience to know what plants provide the best appearance together. We take height, texture and leaf size into consideration as well as container plants for shade or sun locations.  We choose plants and flowers that also work well together in close proximity and are not too invasive to the planter area.
  • When considering plant selections, All Seasons can also provide plant material that is safe for your sometimes nosey pets.  All Seasons can also make plant material suggestions regarding deterrent options for homeowners that have pesky animal intruders.
  • If you have a window box, planter or pot, All Seasons has the experience to know what plants and soil layering will work best based on the size, location and material of your planter.
  • Timing is everything, plant material is sensitive to local temperatures throughout the changing seasons.  All Seasons knows loss of plant material due to too low or too high of temperatures can be costly and frustrating.  Using container plants for sun that can tolerate the full time heat is extremely important to prevent plant loss.

All Seasons can also provide new or replacement containers for your home or office as well.  Additional services and a water maintenance can also be provided for your planters to keep your container plants looking fresh and lively for all the seasons year round!  Call for free price quote!

All Season is participating in this years INspired Beauty Planter Challenge as part of the INspired Beauty downtown event! Come enjoy live music, tasty tapas, and support All Seasons as we put together a beautiful fall container arrangement in a 30 minute challenge that will be raffled off.  September 15th on Monument Circle from 5-7pm.

Event details: http://www.downtownindy.org/happening-downtown/hot/inspired-beauty/

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Landscaping Tips: Benefits of Outdoor Lighting

How to give your outdoor living space and landscaping new life with outdoor lighting.

 Outdoor lighting is often one of the most overlooked elements of landscaping. Whether it’s a newly lit walkway, a few strategically placed flood lights, or mood lighting on a porch or deck, the effects of light and reflection can transform the ordinary into extraordinary.

But there’s more to outdoor lighting than just ambiance. There are lots of benefits to incorporating a variety of lighting elements into your landscape and hardscape. Here are some of our top landscaping tips and benefits for outdoor lighting.

  • Illuminating your home’s exterior can enhance the overall appearance of your property year round.
  • Improving your outdoor aesthetic can also increase property value.
  • Highlighting architectural features, along with beautiful plants or trees, will increase curb appeal.
  • Well-it gathering areas around your home ensures your family and friends longer outdoor enjoyment time.
  • Whether you have a fire pit, patio, porch, walkways or recreational areas, strategic lighting will increase the time your family and friends can enjoy evening events and activities.
  • Lighting your property provides safety and security value.
  • Outdoor landscape lighting deters intruders and vandals when they are looking for targets.
  • Landscape lighting can prevent potential accidents in areas of darkness or uneven ground around your home.
  • Pathway lights provide visibility, protection and elegance.
  • Lighting can deter unwanted pests and animals that can potentially damage your lawn and landscape.
  • Motion-sensing lights are not only energy-efficient, they can serve as security alerts for potential intruders or unannounced visitors.

Our approach to outdoor lighting

All Seasons Landscape considers a number of factors when it comes to creating and implementing outdoor lighting designs, including seasonal changes, plant growth material and property structure. Whether you have a private residence or a public commercial space, All Seasons Landscape can provide high-end superior lighting and installation to those in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. Call today for a free lighting consultation and estimate.

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July Gardening Tips

Remember when you were so excited to dig in and get your garden growing last spring? Then summer hit, and along with it came outdoor adventures, vacation plans and socializing with friends and family. So most likely, taking care of all those plants you worked so hard to grow just a few months ago isn’t at the top of your list.

We’re here to help, with these easy lawn and garden tips for July.

July Gardening Tips

  • Pay special attention to newly established plants, keeping them watered during dry weather.
  • Remember: allow water to penetrate deeply into soil (rather than sprinkling frequently and lightly).
  • Apply mulch – especially around young or vulnerable plants – to help conserve soil moisture and control weeds.
  • Do not plant bare-root or ball-and-burlap stock at this time of year.
  • Container-grown plants can still be planted, but make sure to keep them well-watered.
  • If you have fruit trees, continue a spray program to keep diseases and insects under control.
  • Remove water sprouts (sprouts from the trunk) and suckers (sprouts from the roots) from fruit trees.
  • Pinch off faded rose blossoms. Continue a rose spray program to control insects and diseases.
  • Mulch garden to control weeds and conserve soil moisture.
  • Remove faded blossoms from annual and perennial flowers to prevent seed formation.
  • The foliage of spring-flowering bulbs can be removed safely after they fade. This is also a good time to lift the bulbs for transplanting or propagation.

July Lawn Tips

  • Avoid ‘lawn-mower blight,’ which is when tree trunks and shrubs get nicked by the lawn mower. This can lead to severe plant injury and even death.
  • When watering lawns, apply 1 to 1.5 inches of water in a single application per week (avoid frequent, light sprinklings, as this will encourage roots to stay shallow, making them more susceptible to drought).
  • Take care of your bluegrass! It’s a cool-season plant, and is under great stress during hot, dry summers. If water is not applied, the bluegrass will become dormant and turn brown until more favorable conditions arrive in autumn. For extreme dry conditions, rescue watering is required to keep the plants alive, while still dormant. Apply one-half inch of water every 2-4 weeks.
  • Mow grass one-half inch higher than usual during the dry, summer months to help conserve soil moisture. Do not mow when lawn is under severe drought stress.
  • Don’t remove clippings from the lawn unless grass is excessively tall or weedy. Clippings return some nutrients to the soil and do not add to thatch buildup.

And don’t forget, now is the perfect time to make those landscaping (and hardscaping) plans for fall. Give us a call, and we’ll help you create the outdoor living space of your dreams.

 

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Top Landscaping Tips to Beat the Summer Heat

Know the signs of plant dehydration, landscaping precautions and how to water properly can make all the difference during the intense summer heat.

You know the drill. You spend the glorious months of springtime digging, planting and admiring your outdoor landscaping creations, only to see them suffer in the brutal heat of summer. We’ve got some good news: it doesn’t have to be that way.

We know it can be challenging to maintain your yard and flower beds as the temperatures rise. But if you take certain precautions, it’s possible to keep your landscape and lawn looking nice and fresh over the next few months. We’re here to help.

Signs of Dehydration

It’s pretty simple: when your soil becomes hard and dry, most forms of plant life won’t grow. Therefore, as the summer takes on its usual hot and humid form, soil dryness will lead to lost plants, flowers and shrubs. Therefore, it’s all about water and taking precautions. Knowing – and paying attention to – the first signs of dehydration in your plants can save you that landscaping heartache down the road. Here are the things to look for.

Dehydration signs for fruit, trees and plants:

  • Wilting
  • Stunted growth
  • Yellow or yellow-green leaves
  • Thinner tree canopy
  • Gummy textures on tree branches, twigs or trunks
  • Cracks in wood and bark (more than normal)
  • Twigs or stems begin to die from the top and outer parts of the plant
  • Fruit falling prematurely

Leaf dehydration signs are when they:

  • Are smaller than normal
  • Being to curl up
  • Are misshapen
  • Turn brown from the outside in
  • Are dull (instead of shiny)
  • Turn blue-green, yellowish or brown (depending on the type of plant)
  • Don’t detach from the branches

Your flowers might be dehydrated if:

  • They do not open fully
  • More weeds appear than normal
  • They decrease in growth

Lawn dehydration signs include:

  • Brown spots
  • Shorter than normal
  • Thinning patches

How to Water the Right Way

If you haven’t already, implement a regular watering schedule as soon as you notice that your lawn or garden is suffering from dehydration. Start by knowing your community’s water restrictions. Follow any suggested or enforced watering days and times, and be aware of and respect any of your city’s water-shortage guidelines.

In addition, remember to water first thing in the morning or as the sun is setting. Here are additional watering rules-of-thumb:

  • Lawns need about an inch of water each week.
  • For plants, water once a week applying about one gallon of water for each square foot.
  • To ensure the roots are getting soaked, apply water around the base of your flowers, herbs or vegetables.
  • If you can see footprints across your lawn for an extended time, water more often.
  • If a handful of your soil holds together when you grasp it, it’s properly hydrated.
  • Aerate your lawn once a year.
  • Avoid watering at night to avoid mites.
  • Keep up on weed removal, as they steal nutrients and water from your plants.
  • Mulch regularly to prevent weeds.

Let Us Help

Creating a beautiful landscape and keeping it healthy is our specialty. Whether it’s starting from scratch, or maintaining a lawn and existing gardens, we can make sure you’re able to enjoy your outdoor living space for months to come. Give us a call and let us come take care of everything.

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Five DIY Kid-Friendly Summer Landscaping Ideas

Our top five kid-friendly landscaping ideas might be just the ticket for enhancing your outdoor living space – and keeping your family busy over the summer.

As Alice Cooper famously sang, “School’s out for summer.” Or at least it’s almost out for summer, depending on your school district. Which means millions of young people everywhere will be looking for something to do, and “Go outdoors!” is a common solution – at least from a parent’s point of view.

We’ve got some solutions too, in the form of do-it-yourself landscaping projects that are easy, fun, and are perfect for the whole family. Are you ready? Check out some of our favorite ideas especially for you. Good luck – and happy summer!

Bring on the birds. If you want to create an outdoor learning environment for bird-lovers, think food and fresh water, beginning with a bird bath or fountain. But don’t assume you have to go out and buy one. There are plenty of options for making your own bath, but keep in mind that it needs to be shallow with a slightly rough bottom for traction. Add some bird feeders strategically placed in your yard, and you have a bird sanctuary right out the window.

Add butterflies to the mix. Butterflies aren’t just for looks – they help pollinate flowers. Get your kids involved in planning a garden that will serve to attract these beauties while sprucing up your yard. Best bets? Flowers in purples, oranges, pinks or reds – but make sure they’re suitable for our region. We can help you with choosing the right types of blooms. Since butterflies prefer their meals in the sun, make sure your garden is designed accordingly.

Build a fire pit. There’s nothing quite like roasting marshmallows and hotdogs during cool summer evenings, and a fire pit can bring wonderful memories right to your back yard. There are several DIY designs that are family friendly, but make sure you choose one that is safe, and a site that’s not too close to your house. If you want the perfect fire pit or fireplace to enhance your outdoor living space, but this type of project seems a bit daunting, give us a call. We can design and install one that incorporates and compliments the homemade plans you already have in the works.

Think vegetables. Sure, choosing seeds, preparing the bed and watching edible plants grow can be a prime educational opportunity. But the bottom line is that it’s just plain fun! Get the whole family involved in each process, or let your kids do all the research and planning. There’s nothing quite like preparing a meal using ingredients that came from your own yard. Make sure you pick out the best vegetable types for your region, soil and sun exposure. For more information, here’s a list of gardening resources from Purdue Extension. And check out this recipe  for fresh salsa made from homegrown tomatoes.

Take a load off. If you don’t have a nice, shady place outdoors for your family to just relax in and enjoy, challenge your kids to come up with solutions. Perhaps you have a spot that’s perfect for a hammock, covered swing or Adirondacks. Have them figure out a design and a plan for action. Garage sales are aplenty this time of year, where you might score gently used lawn furniture or hammocks. Have your kids research outdoor seating ideas, and encourage them to consider rock sculptures, stepping stones and any other decorative elements to enhance the space.

Ready to get started?

While these outdoor landscaping ideas are good starters, we know there are plenty more. Do you have some kid-friendly outdoor projects to share? We’d love to hear about your favorites – include pictures if you have any! In the meantime, for your larger outdoor landscaping needs, give us a call. We’d love to help you create your dream outdoor living space.

 

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Looking to Save Energy? Plant the Right Trees

trees and birdsLandscaping can certainly make your yard beautiful, but it can also provide shade, save energy and reduce utility bills.AdobeStock_67542068

We know how landscaping can transform non-descript lawns into tranquil outdoor living spaces – after all, that’s what we do. But we also know that by planting the right trees in strategic areas around your home or business, you can save energy and reduce your utility bills all year around.

Specifically, as described by Purdue Extension urban forestry specialists, trees create a cooling effect during the hot summer months and allow for passive solar gain – heat directly from the sun after leaves have fallen – during winter months. But this will only happen if you plant the right trees and place them in the right place. In fact, improperly planted trees can actually cause damage to your infrastructure or fail to provide any sort of shade at all.

Here are our top tips when choosing and planting trees for optimum energy-efficiency.

Choose high-quality trees. This means they are suitable for your location, region and climate. There’s nothing more frustrating than wasting money, time and energy on trees that are doomed to thrive in the first place. We can help ensure you select the best ones for your needs.

 Go big for shade. If you’re looking for shade and solar gain, choose larger, deciduous-canopy trees primarily for the south-facing side of the house, followed by the west and east. When the sun is high during the summer months, the leaves will provide shade and help cool the house. In the winter, the bare limbs will allow sun to provide direct heating.

 Include evergreens. In order to minimize wind exposure during the winter, plant evergreen trees on the north side of the house. But avoid positioning them too close to the house, especially on the southern side, because during winter months they can block out the sun.

 Do your research. Make sure you are well-educated about the types of trees you choose to plant, as their height and spread as they mature should fit the location and positioning from the beginning. The more naturally the tree fits your design space, the less pruning and maintaining you’ll have to do later on as it grows.

 Ask for help. We are often called in to correct homeowners’ well-intentioned DIY landscaping projects, simply because they weren’t familiar enough with how certain trees form and grow. Trees intended for energy-efficiency must be close enough to the house for the canopy to provide shade, but far enough away from the house to fit the design space and maturing process.

Add hardscapes. While trees are wonderful additions to any energy-efficient landscape, there are plenty of other options that can provide shade and wind protection while also enhancing your outdoor environment. Pergolas, for example, can be positioned in ways to provide wind breaks and shade, while also serving as the perfect backdrop for other foliage that can help cool the area surrounding the home.

If you are looking for ways to not only improve your outdoor living space, but also save energy and reduce your utility bills for years to come, give us a call. We will be happy to assess your needs and give you the landscape of your dreams.

 

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Perfect Perennials for Indiana Landscapes

For a colorful springtime in Indiana, look to these lovely perennials that are perfect for for brightening up your landscape and flower beds.

If you’re looking for perfect perennials that can thrive in the Midwest – no matter what the weather brings – we’ve got some great suggestions. These gorgeous blooms can spice up any landscape, and best of all, they keep coming back year after year.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Here’s our list of awesome perennials to brighten up your springtime in Indiana.

Aster

Aster is native to dry upland prairies, and is particularly fragrant and showy when it full bloom. It prospers in dry, clay or rocky soil, and has a full display of flowers in the fall (make sure to pinch in early summer to prevent flopping).

Black-eyed Susans

These bright-gold flowers are often a staple in Hoosier gardens, as they stay in bloom for more than a month, beginning in August. The most popular varieties include Indian Summer and Goldstrum. These no-maintenance beauties love full sun, and can reach 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.

Butterfly Weed

In spite of the name (it’s also called milkweed), this easy-to-grow plant produces clusters of orange, yellow, pink or vermillion. Appearing in mid- to late summer, they also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Coneflowers

Midwest native coneflowers produce blooms all summer long, ranging in height from 16 inches to 4 feet, depending on the variety. Traditional colors are pink-purple and white, but you can also find them in a flashy red, yellow and other bright hues.

Hardy geraniums

Geranium x cantabrigiense are larger than other hardy geraniums, with scalloped leaves and pale-pink flowers. Known for its density and apple-scented, spicy perfume, these plants begin flowering in June and grow about 6 inches high and 14 inches wide. They flourish in full sun and need little water. In the autumn, the foliage turns a dramatic burgundy.

Lenten Rose

This shade-lover is evergreen, and a hardy plant that frequently blooms while snow is still on the ground. They are great compliments to sidewalks or walkways, and grow a 12-18 inches tall. Flowers come in shades of red, white, purple, pink, green and near-black.

Sedums

Sedums are popular because they are easy to grow, stingy with water, and rich in texture and shape. With its masses of flowers and light gray-green foliage it produces green broccoli-like buds by summer, which open into large pink flower heads that deepen to rusty red by fall. Other favorite sedums include Purple Emperor, Vera Jameson and Meteor.

Virginia Bluebells

Pink buds turn into pink-purple blooms in this spring flower that thrive in sun or shade. Virginia bluebells easily reseed, and each plant grows up to 2 feet high and wide (but be aware, its bloom time is brief).

If you’re looking for deer-resistant blooms, try these:

  • Salvia
  • Catmint
  • Sweet Woodruff (this groundcover releases its scent when walked on)
  • Coreopsis

If you want to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, consider:

  • Clematis (this is more of a vine, but is still a perennial)
  • Coreopsis
  • Daylily
  • Lavender
  • Bee Balm
  • Catmint

For fragrant foliage or flowers, try these:

  • Salvia
  • Lavender
  • Bee Balm
  • Clematis (Hosta)
  • Catmint

Not sure which flowers or plants will work best in your yard? We can help. If you’re ready to take your landscape up a notch, we can help with that too. Whether it’s a landscaping or flower bed makeover, a new hardscape feature, or a unique and tranquil water element, we can turn an ordinary yard into the outdoor living space you’ve always dreamed of. Call us now to schedule a consultation.

 

 

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Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas: Plants That Say ‘I Love You’

Pink bleeding heart flower, close up photo, vintage background.

Sure, a dozen red roses are awesome for your honey on Valentine’s Day, but then again, they’re also rather traditional. If your special someone loves plants, these unexpected options will say I love you symbolically. And the bonus? They won’t immediately wilt and die.

Hottie Houseplants

Anthurium – These exotic flowering houseplants have shiny leaves topped with showy, heart-shaped pink, red, or white blooms. They bloom almost all year long if they get enough light, fertilizer, and moisture.

Bridal veil – This perennial takes its name from its tiny, cascading white flowers (which resembles a bridal veil), and are often displayed as a hanging plant. The leaves add a special touch, as they are olive green on top and purple underneath. It can be kept indoors in winter, and then moved outdoors through the summer.

Heartleaf philodendron – This fool-proof house plant thrives with indirect light and very little maintenance. They are often grown in hanging baskets, which allow the thin stems and heart-shaped leaves to beautifully spill out of over the edges.

String of hearts – Also known as Rosary vine, this funky plant is full of personality. A native of Africa, it grows a string of heart-shaped leaves and makes an excellent houseplant, requiring minimal care.

Purple heart – This cheery splash of purple foliage can be used outdoors during the growing season, but also makes an easy houseplant any time of the year.

Passionate Perennials and Annuals

If your true love can’t wait to get their hands in the dirt this spring, consider gifting an IOU that can be redeemed for a gorgeous plant once the weather warms up. Here are some ideas that are sure to spark some romance simply from their names. Let’s start with perennials:

Bleeding hearts – This beauty features arching stems of delicate, heart-shaped flowers in the spring. It thrives in moist woodland gardens, along with ferns and other shade-lovers.

Cupids’ dart – An easy to grow plant, these perky blue daisies are great splashes of color in any flowerbed, offering contrast and unexpected interest.

Passion flowers – A generous vine, you’ll enjoy daily blooms over a long season, and many make great houseplants.

Hosta ‘Love Pat’ – One of the best blue hostas, this vigorous plant has puckered blue leaves that will perform well in shade to almost three quarters sun in the garden.

If you prefer annuals, take a look at these aptly-named lovelies:

Heartsease – This particular European wild flower has lots of names, including: Viola, heartsease; heart’s ease; heart’s delight; tickle-my-fancy; Jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me; come-and-cuddle-me; three faces in a hood; or love-in-idleness. Whew! Its three-colored faces are closely related to pansies and violets.

Love-lies-bleeding – These striking plants are covered with very long, rope-like flowers that are a deep, brilliant red color. A good seed producer, too, it’s a very old heirloom (a pre-1700 variety) that was and continues to be very popular.

Love-in-a-mist – Finely cut divided threadlike bracts form the “mist” surrounding these jewel-like flowers. The blooms typically range from a bright blue to a very pale blue, but sometimes may be white, pink, or lavender.

Love-in-a-puff – This tropical to sub-tropical vine has tiny white flowers and green papery fruits that are similar to tomatillos. The vine is a heat lover, and is often seen over a fence or trellis.

Love apple – The French called the tomato the pomme d’amour, or The Love Apple, for their belief that the exotic tomato had aphrodisiac powers. Tomatoes might not be responsible for romance in people, but eating tomatoes does seem to spark a lust for more tomatoes.

While these plants can serve as a creative Valentine’s Day gift, if you want to really impress your love, consider new landscaping. This could include everything from a rock garden or patio, to a water element or all of the above. Give us a call – we can help you create an outdoor space that will keep on giving for years to come.

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Great Garden and Landscaping Escapes, Even in Winter

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Getting excited about landscaping, gardening and outdoor living doesn’t have to take a back seat to winter, snow, and frigid temperatures. There’s plenty of inspiration and beauty just waiting for, whether it’s a botanical garden or home and garden event.

Take a look at some top area destinations that will keep you connected to plants and landscaping until you can get your hands nice and dirty this spring:

Garfield Park Conservatory & Sunken Garden – Home to hundreds of different plants from the world’s tropics, the conservatory is 10,000 square feet of beauty. Even on the coldest winter days, you can warm up in the conservatory, see what’s blooming, and enjoy various educational displays and special events throughout the year.

White River Gardens – The Hilbert Conservatory is the focal point of White River Gardens in downtown Indianapolis. Named in honor of Stephen and Tomisue Hilbert, the towering glass enclosure is climate controlled and hosts multiple seasonal shows each year. Offering 5,000 square feet of lush, tropical greenery, the Conservatory is host to exotic palm trees and flowering plantscapes throughout a warm tropical environment.

Indianapolis Home Show – Jan. 22-31, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. Don’t miss this year’s centerpiece home and designer gardens as well as celebrity guests John Gidding of HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block, Matt Blashaw of HGTV’s Yard Crashers, and more.

The Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show – Feb. 25-28, War Memorial Coliseum. See the latest in contemporary home and garden products and services. You’ll find all the inspiration and help you need to start your next home project, plus interactive and educational displays the whole family can enjoy. With a petting zoo, adoptable pets, martial arts demonstrations, and balloon and face-artists around.

Indiana Flower & Patio Show – March 12-20, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. Flowers and patios are at the core of this show, but you will also find hot tubs, grills, decks, water features, potted plants, experts, tools, outdoor furniture, pools, pavers, ‘green’ products, outdoor kitchens, yard art and more.

Indiana has a number of additional public gardens where you can see and experience new plants and learn how to grow them. As the Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture explains, botanical gardens and arboreta (which are essentially living museums with plants as the exhibits) are abundant in our state. Public gardens (during warmer weather, of course) are also wonderful sources of information about plants that can be grown in your area. Take advantage of the lecture series, tours or other special events offered at such locations. Take a look at a larger list of selected gardens in the state here.

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Seven Landscaping Tips for Curing the Winter Blues

winter yard - CopyFor plant and garden lovers, the cold winter months can bring on a bad case of the blues. With no lawn to manicure, and no warm, soft soil to spread or till, there’s nothing left to do but quietly stare out the window and count the days until spring, right?
Well, not exactly. Even though most of your outdoor plants are at rest and their cheery colors have gone into hiding, winter is a perfect time to plunge into landscape planning mode. So get excited and take out your notebook or sketch pad, because we haveour top winter landscaping tips for creating an outdoor environment you’re sure to love year-round.

Inspect your view. Property owners usually don’t pay that much attention to their landscape during the winter. That’s normal. But winter serves as a great opportunity to get a good look at what you have (or don’t have). So make notes of what you see, paying special attention to dead space or unremarkable shapes. Draw diagrams or a rough sketch of current beds, and what you’d like to see next winter (in terms of new colors, textures or shapes) in order to improve your off-season view.

Think berries. If you don’t have any berry-producing trees or shrubs, add them to your wish list. Berries add splashes of color during the fall and winter, and provide food for birds. Holly, in particular, provides texture and color that helps create a warm and festive atmosphere, and brightens up an otherwise lackluster area.

Consider evergreens. Sure, we know that evergreens provide color all year, but you might not know how varied those colors can be. Ranging from deep gold to calming blue, evergreens add texture and soothing pops of color while also serving as focal points year-round. Generally, each bed or landscaped section of your lawn could benefit from at least one evergreen.

What about bark? While at first glance, those deciduous trees that have lost their leaves might seem forlorn. But in wintertime, your branches and trunks can actually become an interesting focus. Ornamental trees with distinctive bark can be beautiful elements no matter the temperature or time of year. Some to consider include dogwoods and birch trees, both of which add nice texture and color.

Remember the hardscape. Don’t limit yourself to just plants as you assess your surroundings and future outdoor atmosphere. Hardscape additions, like a fire pit, trellis, bench, larger seating area or pergola could be the missing link to your ideal yard. Winter is the perfect time to identify these options and explore prices, styles and options.

 Fill up your containers. Traditional summer containers like window boxes, hanging baskets or large pots can be transformed into winter landscapes with little effort. Try filling them up with things like miniature dwarf Alberta spruce and broadleaf evergreens, holly or rhododendron, adding ribbons or other decorative touches for the holidays. You can also fill containers with evergreen boughs of different textures and colors, adding interesting twigs or natural elements for variety.

Stock up. Keep your eye on pre- and post-holiday sales, and stock up on all those non-plant items you need for spring. Bargain shop for anything garden related, and check out your local nurseries or big-box stores for specials on close-out items. It’s also a good time to research any plants you might want to add to your landscape, and start a file for pictures, descriptions and possible landscape or hardscape plans.

If you need help when it comes to your landscape or hardscape wishes for next year, give us a call at (317) 259-9222. We can help you create the kind of outdoor space you dream about.

 What do you think?

These are just seven of our top winter landscaping tips, but we know there’s plenty more. What kind of landscape-related things do you like to do during winter? Do you have any additional tips or helpful ideas? Please tell us about them, and leave your comments below.

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