Winter Holiday Landscaping Ideas to Transform Your Midwest Yard

Barrow Landscapes
Nov 30
3 min read

Updated: 11 minutes ago

Winter in the Midwest brings a special kind of magic — the quiet snowfall, crisp air, and cozy holiday lights that brighten even the coldest evenings. While many homeowners think landscaping ends once the leaves fall, your outdoor space can still shine throughout the winter season. With a little creativity and the right plants, decor, and maintenance, you can create a festive, inviting landscape that stands out all winter long.

Whether you’re preparing for holiday gatherings or simply want to enjoy a beautiful yard during the snowy months, here’s how to make the most of winter landscaping in the Midwest.

Lean Into Evergreens — The Backbone of Midwest Winter Landscaping

When deciduous trees drop their leaves, evergreens take center stage. These plants offer reliable color and structure all winter long. Great choices for Midwest yards include:

pruce and Pine Trees – Strong enough to endure heavy snow, beautiful for holiday lighting.
Boxwood and Yew Shrubs – Perfect for framing walkways or adding structure around the home.
Holly Bushes – Those red berries add a gorgeous pop of natural holiday color.

Evergreens make your yard look alive, even in January.

Add Lighting That Enhances, Not Overwhelms

Holiday lighting can turn an ordinary yard into a winter wonderland. Midwest evenings get dark early, so lighting brings warmth and visibility.

Consider:

Warm white string lights in evergreen trees or shrubs
Pathway lighting to highlight walkways and entry points
Uplighting on mature trees to create dramatic nighttime interest
Wreath lighting or soft porch lights for curb appeal

Keep it simple — the glow of warm light against fresh snow is beautiful on its own.

Incorporate Winter Containers and Porch Pots

Even when the ground freezes, you can still bring color and texture to your entryway with cold-hardy container designs. Fill porch pots with:

Evergreen trimmings
Red twig dogwood
Birch branches
Pinecones
Winterberry stems
Weather-safe ribbon or holiday picks

Containers brighten up entrances and remain vibrant throughout the season.

Use Hardscapes to Add Winter Structure

Midwest winters can be tough on soft landscaping, but hardscape features hold their beauty year-round. Elements like:

Stone retaining walls
Paver walkways
Decorative boulders
Fire pits
Fences and pergolas

…all add visual interest even when covered with a layer of snow. They give your yard structure and invite outdoor gathering whenever the weather cooperates.

Promote Wildlife With Winter-Friendly Features

Many Midwesterners love watching wildlife in winter — especially cardinals, chickadees, and winter squirrels. Welcome them with:

Bird feeders
Heated birdbaths
Winter-safe shrubs that offer berries and shelter

Not only does this help local wildlife, but it brings your winter yard to life.

Don’t Forget Winter Maintenance

Even the best holiday landscape needs proper winter care:

Keep walkways and driveways clear.
Use ice melt products safe for concrete and plants.
Prune damaged branches weighed down by ice.
Protect sensitive plants with burlap wraps when temperatures drop below zero.

Proper winter upkeep ensures your landscape looks great now — and thrives in the spring.

Get Ready for a Beautiful Midwest Winter Yard

Midwest winters can be long, but your outdoor space doesn’t have to look lifeless. With the right mix of evergreens, décor, lighting, and maintenance, you can create a festive and welcoming landscape that carries you through the season.

Whether you want a simple holiday refresh or a full yard transformation, our team is here to help bring your winter landscaping ideas to life.

Happy Holidays!

Ready to get your landscape projects started for the season?

Barrow Landscapes can help. Landscaping doesn’t stop when the growing season ends. With evergreens, ornamental grasses, colorful bark, and thoughtfully designed hardscapes, you can enjoy a yard that looks just as beautiful in January as it does in June. If you’re ready to bring winter and the holiday interest to your property, our team can help design and install features that make your landscape shine all year long.

Barrow Landscapes’ team specializes in Winter interest landscapes so that you can enjoy your outdoor space during those colder days ahead.

Barrow Landscapes services Metamora, Germantown Hills, Peoria, East Peoria, Washington, Morton and surrounding areas. Contact Barrow Landscapes for all your landscaping needs.

Barrow Landscapes offers Hardscapes including Paver Walkways, Retaining Walls, Paver Patios to Softscapes including landscape plantings, lawn install and repair, and privacy plantings. Barrow Landscapes also offers landscape lighting and 2D and 3D landscape designs so their clients’ can visualize their dream landscapes with unparalleled clarity and confidence, making informed decisions bringing outdoor visions to life.