How To Make your Winter Garden Shine
by
Dawn West, All About Lawns Columnist
It gets dark at 4 p.m. There's snow everywhere. You shiver just
looking at your yard and garden. With all that, abandoning your
landscaping completely until spring seems perfectly reasonable. But
there is another way! If you want your winter garden to shine, don't
buy space heaters to defy the weather, buy lighting that plays off its
wonders. Do things right and winter can be a chance to show off your
landscaping, not ignore it. Let these tips help you light your winter
yard to perfection. Winter is the darkest time of
year, but that doesn't mean your landscaping has to fade into the
night. Here's how to make it shine.
Choose Highlights Yard lighting any time of year is best
when you focus on just a few spots (otherwise you're likely to end up
with a prison yard effect). In the summer it may be your patio, a
flowering tree, your favorite bench among the roses in your garden.
What's stunning in winter, however, is different than summer. The bare
branches of a tree covered in a glistening layer of ice, the inviting
line of a path carved from the snow -- whatever you choose, play up the
beauty of winter.
Think Beyond the Holidays Christmas lights are a seasonal
treat, but it's a shame to pull the plug on such sparkling landscaping
enhancement just because the holiday has passed. Sure, take the
Christmas lights down -- the mini-bulb strings, those jazzy
colored-bulbs -- but don't be afraid to put some non-holiday lights up
in their place. Larger bulbs, in white, (look for C-7 size bulbs when
you're shopping) will make your garden lights look like a lovely and
intentional act of good taste, not an accident of post-holiday
laziness.
The dark of winter doesn't have to mean dull
landscaping. With a little well-placed lighting, your yard and garden
can be a pleasure all year long.
About the Author
Dawn West B.A. holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and teaches writing at Oregon State University.
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