Winter can be a tricky time for our yards in Cincinnati! If you enjoy gardening, it is a slow season. You can’t plant much of anything, and it’s too cold to plant flowering plants, so unless you’ve got a greenhouse, or you’re spouting bulbs for springtime, winter is a quiet season for gardening and yard work.
But what about trees? Believe it or not, winter is a time when you can add trees to your yard. You can give your garden and yard some height, while adding texture to your surroundings. Some of these trees produce berries in the winter, too, which can make for a natural bird feeder and add splashes of color to an otherwise greyscale setting.
Arborists call these “trees for winter landscape interest,” and there are a variety that can thrive after being planted at this time of year.
Trees with Branches and Berries
Deciduous trees are not what you think of first when you think of winter trees. They lose most or all of their leaves in the fall.
However, the bare branches themselves can be stunningly beautiful, especially when the snow and ice come. Those delicate branch patterns — clusters of fine, angled branches and twigs — can capture the frost beautifully. The branch architecture can be perfect to create a shimmering effect. For trees with great branches, check out Osage orange and birch trees.
Not all leafy trees lose their foliage in the winter, though. Especially lovely are eucalyptus, in part for the way their bark peels.
For trees and bushes that have fruit and berries that emerge in the winter, you can consider holly and hawthorn trees. Have a jolly, holly Christmas, eh?
Trees That Stay Green All Winter
Evergreen trees, also known as conifers, keep their needles or leaves all year. Cedars show off snow brilliantly. Cedar bark also has a nice textural element for your landscaping. Some trees naturally grow into conical shapes, which can create a lovely effect with the “skyline” of your yard. These include firs and spruces, which, coincidentally, are often chosen for use as Christmas trees. Having a few of these in your yard give you a ready-made “outdoor Christmas tree” to decorate during the holidays.
If you’re careful and attentive, you can plant hardy, winter-sure trees even during the darkest season of the year. Trees are mostly dormant during the winter months, meaning that they are less likely to be disrupted by being transplanted in the winter, and it puts them in a great position to hit the ground running (not literally!) come spring. It would probably be best to get some professional arboreal advice from your local tree service company before you get started, and we’re happy to help if you have questions.
