When the sun's not shining and it's cold, those gray days of winter can be depressing. This is especially true of you look out across a bare yard. However, there are plants that look pretty against a winter backdrop. What's more, it's possible to create cozy spots around the landscape itself with hardscaping and yard accents. Make your backyard into a winter beauty.

Plant for Winter Color

Not all plants hibernate in the cold months. According to Home and Garden TV, plants such as witch hazel, winter jasmine, hellebore, and mahonia bloom even into winter. Likewise, berries can add a pop of cold weather color. Good varieties include winterberry, red-twig dogwood, eastern red cedar and, of course, holly. In a similar vein, crab apple trees can keep their fruit well into winter as well.

Include Evergreens

Another method for adding color is with evergreens. In fact, despite their name, evergreens can also come in yellows and blues. For those colors, consider gold thread false cypress or dwarf blue spruce. With green, you could do a combination of shrubs and trees for geometric interest. At minimum, a couple evergreens look beautiful year-round as border plants.

Add Architectural Plants

Color is not the only method for adding visual interest to your landscape. Plants with interesting shapes look attractive even in a gray-scale, especially if you get any snowfall. Various ornamental grasses work well for this design, especially any of the fountain grass species. For example, mock rush keeps its distinctive cattail shape even as the plant itself goes into hibernation. Likewise, switchgrass maintains its pretty fountain-shaped mounds even when covered with a light dusting of snow. Consider adding these in clusters around your yard.

Brighten the Landscape

Lighting and colorful accent pieces also help your landscape look beautiful in the cold weather. If you haven't already layered your landscape lighting, consider doing so now. Instead of just illuminating your whole yard, highlight pretty areas with under-lighting or moonlighting effects. Additionally, change out any subtle yard art with colorful pieces. If you have summer planters, make them over with cold-friendly plants.

Consider a Fire Pit

Of course, a prime method for enjoying your yard in the winter is making it warm with a fire pit. You can have a bonfire pit installed, or you can simply add a portable version. Wood is probably the fuel that creates the most ambience. However, gas and propane fire pits make clean-up easier. Either way, choose a location where you can add lots of seating.

Don't let your yard suffer from the winter doldrums. Beautify it even for cold weather with help from a company like All Season Landscaping.