Location : Huntington, NY. Oyster Bay, NY.

Plants That Thrive in Winter A Guide from Louis Contino Landscaping


Winter Landscaping That Lasts All Year – Louis Contino Landscaping When most people picture winter on Long Island, they imagine bare branches, frozen lawns, and lifeless flowerbeds. But at Louis Contino Landscaping, the most awarded landscaper in Long Island we know a secret: your yard doesn’t have to go dull just because the temperature drops. With thoughtful planning and the right plant choices, your property can look beautiful in every season. Our team has built a reputation for award-winning landscaping in Suffolk County and custom landscaping in Nassau County, and we bring that expertise to every winter project. Whether you’re dreaming of backyard renovations on Long Island

a new outdoor kitchen in Nassau County or simply enhancing your curb appeal with pool landscaping and winter-hardy plants, we’ll help you create a space that feels alive all year round.
 

Why Winter Landscaping Matters

Winter is often overlooked in landscape design. Many homeowners focus on spring blooms or summer outdoor living, but the cold season is when your property truly shows whether it’s been designed with year-round beauty in mind

Here’s why winter landscaping is worth the investment:

Curb appeal doesn’t stop in December. Whether you’re in Nassau County or Suffolk County, your home’s exterior is the first impression for neighbors, visitors, and even potential buyers. A thoughtful design keeps your property attractive even in January. Outdoor living isn’t seasonal anymore. With fire pits, patios, and outdoor kitchens in Nassau County, families are spending time outside year-round. Landscaping that looks beautiful in winter enhances those experiences.
Well-placed plants protect your property. Evergreen hedges provide windbreaks, ornamental grasses stabilize slopes, and trees add shade in summer while allowing light in winter. Landscaping is about beauty and  function.It reflects who you are. A polished yard communicates pride of ownership and sets your home apart from others on the block.At Louis Contino Landscaping, one of the top landscaping companies on Long Island, we design spaces that feel intentional every month of the year.

Evergreen Shrubs: Green All Year Long

Evergreens form the backbone of any winter landscape. They keep their leaves, maintain structure, and provide deep greens that make a yard look alive when other plants are dormant
 

Boxwood

Why we love it: Reliable, compact, and always green.
Best use: Define walkways, create garden rooms, or add formal structure to 
front yards.
Design tip: Pair boxwood with ornamental grasses for contrast.  

Hollies

Why we love it: The red berries against glossy green leaves bring instant 
holiday charm.Varieties: American holly for classic looks, Nellie R. Stevens holly for fuller coverage.
Client example: A family in Nassau County wanted low-maintenance privacy along their driveway holly hedges gave them year-round screening and festive berries each winter

Southern Magnolia

Why we love it: Large glossy leaves and bold presence even when skies are gray.
Bonus: Fragrant blooms in spring and summer.

Junipers

Why we love it: Tough, drought-tolerant, and versatile.
Best use: Upright varieties for vertical accents, spreading types for erosion control.We often begin custom landscaping in Long Island NY with evergreen foundations. They set the stage for seasonal colors
  

Winter-Blooming Flowers: Surprise Color in the Cold

Many homeowners are shocked to learn that flowers can bloom in January. Adding even a few of these varieties to your design makes winter feel alive.Hellebores (Lenten Rose) – Blooms January through March in pink, purple, and white. One Suffolk County homeowner told us her hellebores made February feel like spring arrived early.Snowdrops – Small, delicate white blooms that push through frosty soil. Perfect for naturalizing under trees.Winter Jasmine – Bright yellow flowers that bloom on bare stems. Minimal maintenance required.Camellias – Red, pink, or white flowers in late fall and winter. Choose cold-hardy varieties for reliable blooms.These are the kinds of thoughtful details that separate award-winning landscaping in Suffolk County from ordinary design.

Ornamental Grasses: Movement and Texture

Winter landscapes shouldn’t be flat. Ornamental grass add height, motion, and seasonal color.Switchgrass – Turns golden in winter, stands tall against snow.Little Bluestem – Rusty-orange winter tones add warmth.Feather Reed Grass – Seed heads stay upright, catching frost like glitter

We recommend leaving ornamental grass standing through winter. Their shimmering seed heads in morning frost feel like natural holiday decorations. This is one of the signature touches that has made us a top-rated landscaper in Nassau County.
 

Trees with Winter Beauty
 

Trees can be just as striking in January as they are in July.Paperbark Maple – Cinnamon-colored peeling bark glows against snow.River Birch – Multi-trunk forms and textured bark create architectural interest.Red Twig Dogwood – Vibrant red stems stand out dramatically in winter light.Adding these trees ensures your landscape design in Nassau County has focal points even when leaves are gone

Beyond Plants: Year-Round Outdoor Living

Winter landscaping isn’t only about plants it’s about how you live outside year-round. As trusted landscaping contractors in NY, we design full outdoor experiences:Backyard renovations in Long Island transform unused yards into functionalretreats.Outdoor kitchens in Nassau County where families can cook and gather, even in cooler weather.
Pool landscaping in Long Island that ensures your pool area looks elegant inwinter and inviting in summer.Custom landscaping projects like pergolas, patios, and fire pits that extend outdoor living through all four seasons.
 

Design Principles We Follow

At Louis Contino Landscaping, we design every winter-friendly yard around these principles:Layering: Tall evergreens in back, shrubs in the middle, perennials and grasses in front.Sightlines: Placing the most striking plants where you see them from windows or entryways.Lighting: Spotlights on trees or grasses make winter evenings magical.Balance: Mixing evergreens, flowering shrubs, grasses, and hardscaping for four-season interest.

Containers: Dwarf conifers or winter pansies in pots brighten patios and 
entryways.This level of planning is why we’re consistently listed among the top landscaping companies on Long Island.
Why Homeowners Choose Louis Contino Landscaping We’re not just landscapers we’re partners who bring vision and expertise to every project.Most awarded landscaper in Long Island: Recognition from local and national associations.
Award-winning landscaping in Suffolk County: Proven results with real families across the region.Top-rated landscaper in Nassau County: Hundreds of satisfied clients who recommend us.Trusted landscaping contractors in NY: Decades of combined experience designing for our climate.
Personalized service: No cookie-cutter plans we design based on your property, lifestyle, and budget.When people search “landscaper near me,” they choose Louis Contino Landscaping because they know they’re getting more than a service. They’re getting long-lasting quality.Ready to Brighten Your Winter Landscape?Your yard doesn’t have to hibernate when temperatures drop. With thoughtful landscaping in Suffolk County or landscaping in Nassau County, 
we can create something that makes you smile every time you step outside.

Call 631-351-5409 today for a free consultation
Or visit louiscontinolandscaping.com/contact
to connect with one of the top landscaping companies in Long Island NY.
At Louis Contino Landscaping, every season deserves a landscape that feels 
alive.