Depending on where you live, you might not get to experience the winter wonderland-type of beauty found in northern states, but you can still enjoy your own kind of winter beauty if you live in more southwest areas like California, Arizona, and Nevada. To help make that happen, we’re sharing five tips you can use today to brighten your winter landscape in these warmer winter states.

1. Perform winter landscaping maintenance. Before we get to the tips that will actually add some winter beauty to your landscape, let’s do some maintenance first: remove leaves and other debris, clean out your gutters, do some edging around your pathways, prune plants and trees, fertilize as needed, and address anything else you see that needs some TLC. Decluttering your yard feels as good as decluttering your house, and it will make everything look and feel fresh!

2. Plant some new plants and trees. The key for success here is to first contact your County Extension Agent since planting times, processes, and types of year-round plants (especially in the winter months) can be different even from county to county. You can find your County Extension Agent here, and depending on what you discover through your extension agent, here are some ideas that might help:

  • Trees and shrubsCitrus trees, Live Oak trees, Primrose Jasmine, Carolina Cherry, Japanese Blueberry, Bougainvillea, Fairy Duster, Gardenia (heavenly fragrance!), and many others.
  • Cacti and succulents:Especially in more desert-like areas, cacti can add some texture (and sometimes even flowers!) to your landscape, and succulents like Royal Agave, several varieties of Aloe, Crown of Thorns, Flaming Katy, Jade Plant, and others can add some winter beauty to your yard.
  • Flowers:Marigolds, Pansies, Geraniums, Petunias, and others are popular annual winter flowers. A perennial favorite is Lantana, which can actually bloom year-round in some climates, and the variety of colors and color mixes is incredible!

3. Mulch your beds. Once you’ve got your planting done, a fresh layer of mulch will not only help conserve water, but it will also help your landscape beds look fresh and new. Nothing like having something fresh in those winter months.

4. Add some color.Paint or repaint flowerpots, benches, fixtures, and other non-foliage elements in your yard. Add pops of color wherever you can—you can enjoy these year-round! Another way to add some color is to hang some bird feeders to attract those fun-to-watch birds. Bird watching can be an enjoyable activity all year long!

5. Add some lighting, of course.If your current lighting system doesn’t put the focus on your foliage, or it highlights parts of your landscape that may not be so winter beauty-friendly, it’s time to make some adjustments to your current lighting and/or add some new lighting to your yard to get the most out of your beautiful landscape during the winter months. While you’re at it, do some quick maintenance on your landscape lighting system to ensure everything is functioning properly. And don’t forget to add some lighting to your outdoor living features and areas that will make them even more enjoyable in the winter months. For more tips on creating your dream landscape lighting plan, check out this post on our blog.

Have more questions on how to get the most out of your southwestern landscape lighting this winter? Fill out our Contact Form, and we’ll help get your landscape lighting in tip-top shape for the winter months and beyond!