When I walk a property with clients looking for good winter interest, I always start with the structure. The insulation of the building, heating and possible occurrence of cold spots that makes the property uncomfortable during winter months are essential to consider. I also test the doors and windows regarding draft issues and determine whether they are resistant to the elements. Unless the building is good, there will be no decoration or charm that will make the house warm during winter. After inspecting the foundation, I proceed to the view and entry. The entrance should be well built so as to make it a welcoming feeling especially on the days that are colder. I'll take note of the space texture, could it fit winter clothes like coats and boots? Concerning the view, the natural light can contribute significantly to the level of coziness that a space has, so I check what direction and what kind of views can be found. I think all these combined with the structural integrity contribute to my influence of guiding the clients to make a decision that will best suit their needs throughout the colder months.
You know me — I can't let a good container sit idle, especially when the holidays roll around. My favorite kind of container garden isn't about blooms in July, it's about boughs in December. I'm talking fresh pine and cedar clipped from nearby — emphasis on nearby, not the neighbors' yards (oh no, never that... unless those branches happen to just fall over the fence, in which case who am I to waste nature's gifts?). Then come the berries — red or white if I can forage them, but let's be honest, if nature's supply chain runs dry, the dollar store or thrift shop never lets me down. Add a few twinkling lights on timers because who wants to remember to plug and unplug every night? Not me. I like my sparkle to be self-sufficient. The best part? I take my big summer showstopper — that waist-high, twelve-foot-wide container that was bursting with geraniums just a few months ago — and transform it into a holiday masterpiece. Out go the flowers, in comes the festive glory: pine, cedar, lights, berries, and maybe a ribbon or two if I'm feeling fancy. It's like giving your garden a winter wardrobe — cozy, classic, and just a little bit extra. I have images but cannot find a place to ad them.
When I visit a property with a client who is interested in greater winter feels, I look at the bones of the garden and its hardscape rather than seasonal plantings. There are several things I consider, the first being how it looks from inside the house—not just from anywhere in the home, but particularly from main living areas where families gather during cooler months. In San Diego, there's not really winter and owners can most easily get to use outdoor spaces in that season - so I look at how hardscaping and architectural features and lighting are interesting from the inside looking out. I analyze current conditions, drainage elements, and your opportunities to create permanent features. In order to have those "winter" moments in San Diego's moderate climate, I'm looking for ideas that provide the look of winter and appeal to the eyes and other senses without a lot of work. Cost-effective artificial grass provides the look and feel of a lush backyard all year long, without browning or smell of the natural stuff. For added interest, I would suggest including things like hardscape such as custom fire pits which become the focal area on winter nights, water -features that add movement and sound, architectural LED lighting that extends enjoyment when days are shorter during the winter months. Xeriscaping also looks good, offering voids from void by using a combination of drought-resistant structural elements and rock gardens that have highly decorative textures year round. The solution, is to build in layers of visual interest through permanent installations — like stone pathways, retaining walls with built-in seating and pergolas — rather than relying on the kind of plants that must be replaced seasonally. In terms of maximum impact for owners with a limited budget ($500 to $1,000) that still want to feel winter's bite, consider investing in strategic outdoor lighting for the most impactful landscape addition for four-season interest. Great LED width path lighting, uplighting for structural elements and vintage lighting for entertaining areas makes a huge difference to the backyard experience in deep winter when darkness arrives early. This technique delivers instant visual punctuations from inside and outside the home while offering extra hours of usage. The second priority should be one solid hardscape element — a small feature-fire, water or alternating geometry in the raised patio space above with nicer pavers to dictate and define the seating area.
My renovation work regularly ties lighting and landscape architectural planning together so winter interest is about the structure, the sight lines and a few upgraded lighting solutions. I analyze the view from inside first because this is what most clients will be seeing. I check the entry to see how to create safety and balance and then consider the structure of the garden. The evergreen plants such as camellias, grevillias and lomandra have strong form and color in winter freezing points while groupings give more force to the overall presentation. I suggest for a $500-$1000 budget you buy three or four good quality evergreen plants, a load of top soil if needed and one low-voltage uplight. That combination will give depth, texture and evening interest. On a project I did recently one installation costing $1100 with camellias, lomandra and warm lighting turned a dark corner into a fixed interest that all year round was visible from the living room.