Welcome to a new year and the perfect time for a fresh start—in life and in your garden! As the hustle and bustle of the holidays fade, let’s focus on how to make your outdoor spaces shine this year. This year specifically in Northern California, a mild winter makes January an ideal month to prepare, plan, and dream big for your garden.

Winter’s Little Wake-Up Call: Weeds Are Coming Early!

A lush garden with raised rust-colored planters filled with green foliage and flowering plants. A yellow bistro table with two matching chairs sits on a gravel pathway, surrounded by vibrant greenery.

Thanks to light rains this season, we’re in for an early appearance of everyone’s favorite uninvited guest: weeds! These pesky plants love to sneak in when we’re not looking, but with a little winter clean-up now, we can stay ahead of them and give your garden the attention it deserves.

Quick Tips:

  • Pull weeds while the soil is moist for easier removal.
  • Mulch generously to suppress weed growth and protect your soil.
  • Apply cover crop or native seeds to create more habitat and build up soil.
  • Make sure to talk to someone knowledgeable about which are beneficial weeds versus invasive-unwanted weeds.

Plan Now, Bloom Later: Why Winter Is Prime Time for Big Ideas

Dreaming of a refreshed yard or a whole new outdoor space? Winter is the perfect season to make it happen. With leaves cleared and bare branches revealing your yard’s “bones,” you can spot opportunities and challenges you might miss in other seasons.

This is also the ideal time to tackle drainage issues. Is water pooling where it shouldn’t? Are leaves piling up in hard-to-reach spots? These clues can guide permanent solutions that will save you headaches (and money) down the road.

Step 1: The Master Plan

A 3D-rendered landscape design of a modern backyard featuring a wooden deck with an outdoor dining table and seating area. Surrounding the deck are lush ornamental grasses, stone steps leading through the garden, and red-leafed trees framing the space. Transparent human figures are included to illustrate scale and functionality.

Every successful project starts with a vision. Together, we’ll create a design that outlines how you want your space to look and function. From there, we can prioritize projects that will give you the most value and joy right away—whether that’s an inviting patio, a lush vegetable garden, or a serene water feature.

Bonus: Starting early means you’ll be ready to enjoy your new space by spring or summer!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Have a new ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on the horizon? Or maybe you’re considering other construction projects? We love collaborating with architects and builders to ensure your landscaping complements your new addition.

For example:

  • How will the ADU’s placement impact your backyard?
  • What is the connection from the main house to the new structure?
  • What trees and plants need to be removed, saved or relocated?
  • Where will rainwater flow from the new roof?

We’ll think through these details so your garden works in harmony with your home.

Think Green: Creative Solutions for a Changing World

As California evolves with new environmental laws, it’s more important than ever to design gardens that are both beautiful and sustainable. That’s where rain gardens and bioswales come in.

  • Rain Gardens: Gorgeous plant-filled areas designed to absorb and filter rainwater.
  • Bioswales: Gentle channels that redirect stormwater while adding visual appeal.

These features not only reduce runoff but also support local watersheds and native wildlife. Plus, they’re a fantastic way to give your garden a modern, eco-friendly edge!

A side-by-side of two rain garden designs. On the left, a dry landscape with smooth river rocks and drought-tolerant plants, including orange wildflowers. On the right, a functional rain garden with water flowing over large rocks, surrounded by lush greenery and a downspout directing water into the system.

Your Garden Journey Starts Now

Whether you’re envisioning a total transformation or just want to tackle one area at a time, January is the month to set those plans in motion. Let’s work together to create a space that feels like home—only better.

Special New Year’s Offer: Book a consultation with us by January 31st, and we’ll include a personalized checklist for preparing your garden for the year ahead!

Cheers to a vibrant, green 2025!