The Quiet Beauty of Winter

Tips on Winter Garden Maintenance

Natali Ittenberg, Landscape Designer, Columbine Landscapes Co.

One of the questions I hear often from clients is, “Do I need to take care of my plants in winter?” And the answer is always yes—especially here in the Four Corners. A little winter garden maintenance goes a long way. Our dry air, sharp temperature swings, and long stretches without moisture can be hard on trees and shrubs. But winter is far from a dead season. It’s a quiet, subtle time in the garden—a season that reveals textures, colors, and shapes we barely notice in summer. 

A little attention goes a long way

Even though plants are dormant, their roots are still active. Winter drought is one of the main reasons evergreens and young plantings struggle in spring, so a little attention goes a long way. If we’ve had no moisture, give your trees, shrubs, and evergreen perennials a slow, deep soak every four weeks on a warm day above 40°F. If there’s snow, simply let nature hydrate your garden; once it melts, begin counting the four weeks again. This small rhythm helps prevent winter burn and keeps roots resilient. Read more about winter garden maintenance and watering in our article Winter Time Tips and Tricks.

Mulching is another easy way to protect your plants. A fresh layer around trees and shrubs helps steady soil temperatures and hold moisture through freeze–thaw cycles. Just remember to keep mulch slightly away from trunks.

And as tempting as it can be to tidy up, try to leave seedheads and ornamental grasses standing. Their silhouettes catch frost and low winter light, adding sculptural beauty while also feeding birds and sheltering beneficial insects. You can read more about this approach in our fall clean-up article.

Winter is also when wildlife becomes resourceful, so protecting young trees from deer or small mammals is important. Simple trunk wraps or fencing can save young bark from damage and help trees leaf out strong in spring.

Slow down & bundle up

Caring for your landscape now sets everything up for a healthier, easier transition into spring. Winter garden maintenance is more than preparation, it’s an invitation to slow down and notice details that summer hides: the elegant branching patterns of dormant trees, the deep green of junipers against white snow, the warm tones of sagebrush and rabbitbrush, the red stems of dogwood and the orange stems of willows glowing in soft morning light, the long shadows stretching across the ground, and the crystal sparkle of frost on seedheads.

So bundle up, step outside, and let yourself enjoy the peaceful beauty of your winter garden. There’s much more life and interest out there than meets the eye—and the more you look, the more you’ll find.