A new year in the landscape

January is here and the cold weather wont be going away anytime soon. While the ground is frozen the thought of spring seems very far away. As we all organize and clean out the year past this is a good time to start to plan the new year in your landscape.

Now that things are dormant and you can see the bones of your yard, look closely at the areas that need improvement. The corner of the yard where no one goes or the side of the house that no one sees might be great places to start. After you have located the area that needs some improvement, think about something different. Think about a plant you have always wanted to try or a great bench you saw at the store but didn't buy. Now use that thought for your inspiration and build on that.

There are many plants available that you might not have thought about that would work great with things you already have. Take cuttings of some of your existing plants and start new ones to save on the cost. Mixing some old favorites with some great new plants will make the area seem like an extension of your existing landscape while adding some new excitement.

Use those forgotten corners and far off spaces to create smaller gardens within your yard. Those areas just might become your favorite places to go afterwards.