It’s a shame putting all that potential curb appeal to waste at some point during the year. Each season has its blessings and challenges, so learning how to use that to your advantage is the key to good landscaping. What you need are dreamy landscaping ideas that are good for every season to give your exterior an attractive look. Mixing colors and materials, playing with structures and shapes, combing purpose and beauty — that’s what you will have to do to create a breathtaking outdoor area. Let’s begin then!
Winter
1. Discover the berries
Trees and shrubs with berries are the symbols of winter, especially when heavy snowfall is involved. All that white needs contrast and flamboyant berries on your greenery will give it a touch of liveliness.
Winterberries are leafy during the warm months, but in winter when the leaves fall out, the plant is covered in red berries. If you would like some purple to your winter landscape, beautyberry will help you create areas that pop with color. Crabapples, like Jewelcole, Sugar Tyme, and Wintergold bear their fruits well into the winter if the birds don’t eat them all before January.
2. Include the evergreens
Evergreens should be part of every landscape that wants to look amazing throughout the year. They are elegant and easy to care for, making them the best solutions for those who are not skilled gardeners. Contrary to popular beliefs, evergreens include a range of colors besides green, like yellow, blue, and red so you can combine different varieties for an interesting landscape.
Silver Koran Fir is a dense and silvery tree with soft needles that are a good fit for minimalist-designed gardens. Small outdoor areas can still have lavish evergreens, like dwarf blue spruce, bringing blue color and festive vibes. Those into classics will adore bristlecone pine which offers green, blue, and white tones you can decorate during the holidays.
3. Focus on hardscape details
After winter-proofing your home, it’s time to prepare the outdoor area for cold and snowy months. Look for the possible areas to improve your landscape, like missed focal points during the other seasons. You can fill these in with hardscape details, like sculptures, to make them more impactful.
Structures, like trellis and arbors, are beautiful additions you can use for displaying evergreen climber vines. Cape Honeysuckle with orange and red tubular flowers will be in bloom the whole winter so you can plant it on the gate to welcome your guests. A bench is a nice feature to have in the winter, especially under a pergola or gazebo you can add to your winter landscape.
Spring
4. Time for decluttering and preparing
Spring is the time you should have your garden tools at the ready and start making big plans for landscaping. If you are planning to add a new feature to your landscape, like a pool or a patio, preparing the ground is vital. Take care of the overgrown plants and debris, while at the same time trying to even out the ground with a shovel to create a clean space to work with.
Check if there are any unwanted pests and potential repairs you need to do after the winter before you proceed with your landscaping work. This is the season to start with small repairs, as well, like fixing the fence and a façade.
5. Build pathways
Pathways are an excellent way to create sections in your landscape and make every part of it accessible. This feature is available even if you are on the budget by using stones, but as a DIY project, it may be possible to use other, pricier materials.
If you already have a gravel path, you can update it with stone chips and edging, refreshing its look and making it more attractive. Granite stepping stones on the lawn are ideal dreamy landscaping for those who want a more rustic exterior design.
6. Start planting flowers
Planting flowers should be high on your list since it brings colors and scents to the garden after the winter. One of the earliest flowery plants to bloom is shrubbery forsythia, while fragrant lilacs and magnolias are best for late spring. If you envisioned landscaping with perennials, Virginia bluebells, bloodroot, and primrose will bring clustered flowers you can easily fit into your ideas.
It's always best to cultivate plants that you can care for, so if you are not much of a gardener keep that in mind. Marigolds and dianthus are wonderful for beginners and can flower for months well into the summer.
Summer
7. Design a leisure area
Start the warmest season by creating a leisure area where you can spend time outside in the shade. A patio by the house can serve even during other seasons if you add additional features. A retractable roof and removable walls will allow you to manipulate this space as needed so you can sit regardless of the weather.
Standing heaters can keep your patio warm, or you can build an outdoor fireplace for a cozier atmosphere. Stone tiles or wood for the floors will help the patio fit in with the rest of the landscaping and nature. all, leafy plants in the large pots can serve as luxurious decorations that will make the patio stand out and be distinguishable.
8. Arrange the furniture
There are more ways to use furniture in landscaping than just creating an outdoor seating area. A bench underneath a generous tree may be a nice place to read and chat with a friend over coffee. A large dining table by the summer kitchen can turn outdoor eating into an event.
If you have a large space to cover, you can create more than one leisure area and most of them don't require a lot of money. Tree stumpy around the DIY fire pit can give you a campsite-type of a spot to spend quality time with your kids, even during winter. If you have a pond, add a few chairs and a coffee table in front of it for relaxing moments by the sounds of water.
9. Introduce the special lighting
Christmas lights are a cheap way to add special lighting to your summer landscapes. Wrap the string lights around trees, bushes, and screens, or use a glue gun where possible to fix them more firmly. Solar lamps are simple and trouble-free features that can light the paths and special areas in the garden.
Another solar decoration is mason jar lights you can hang from the branches or place on the lawn to create a dreamy landscape. Mesh fairy string lights can serve as improvised walls for an outdoor structure, or you can hang them on the roof edge to fall over the deck. Large bulb string lights may be more challenging to install, but be just what your outdoor seating area needs to become truly functional.
Fall
10. Think of pumpkins and plants
Fall has the most beautiful color palette of all four seasons. If you want this to be part of your landscaping, you should plant maples with yellow, orange, and red foliage. These harvest colors are also available on sumac shrubs, like Tiger Eyes. Since maple’s glory lasts through October, planting oak trees will continue to bring warm colors to your outdoor space.
But fall landscaping is also special because of Halloween when everyone decorates their yards to celebrate this holiday. Those who are not fans of the spooky embellishments can stick to the classic pumpkin decorations and dried corn stalks to mark the harvest season.
11. Make a water feature
A water feature is a landscaping addition that brings a natural element to space. A fountain encircled by the stone can serve as a focal point in your design, especially if you add an artistic twist to it with a sculpture. A small pond will look charming in all seasons, although having koi fish depends on the winter temperatures in your region.
Artificial waterfalls create soothing sounds of cascading water and bring a more extravagant appeal to your exterior. If you like big statements, then a rock garden is the right water feature for you and a way to create a new area in your landscaping. The cascades and edge built from natural rocks and a few colorful plants around it will help this feature melt with the surrounding greenery.
12. Spruce up your doorway
The front door has a lot to add to the curb appeal and thus overall landscaping projects. If you have steps leading to your doorway, place potted plants on both sides with white confederate jasmine and purple coral bells. Plant plants of different colors and sizes together to create a more natural and rustic look that will work well with the rest of your landscape.
Repainting the entrance and refreshing the look of your house also affects the landscaping, so pay attention to the colors you use. Vibrant tones are cheerful but can turn tacky if you have too many colorful plants in the garden. Instead, opt for natural and earthy tones, like mahogany and chestnut that look dazzling in the fall with color-changing foliage.
All in all
Landscaping is about finding a balance between nature and exterior design so your property can preserve its beauty throughout the year. Before you start rearranging and planting, begin freeing up space from clutter and unwanted features to see what you are working with. These dreamy landscaping ideas offer fantastic ways to structure the space and give it an authentic style. If you experience a creative block, just take a good look at the existing nature and try to use it as inspiration for future layouts.
