Winter Curb Appeal Tips
Winter is the forgotten season for curb appeal, but your home is visible year-round. A few strategic touches keep your entrance welcoming even in the cold months. Here's how to maintain attractiveness without fighting nature.
Quick Summary
Time needed
2-3 hours setup + ongoing maintenance
Cost
$50-$150
Difficulty
Easy
The Winter Curb Appeal Essentials
1. Evergreen Wreath
Fresh or high-quality faux evergreen wreath adds life to barren landscape. Choose classic design with pinecones, red berries, and subtle ribbon. Replace by early February when it looks tired.
Fresh vs. Faux: Fresh lasts 4-6 weeks outdoors in cold weather, smells amazing. Faux lasts years, works in all climates. Both valid choices.
2. Well-Lit Entrance
Winter darkness makes lighting crucial. Ensure porch lights work (replace bulbs), add pathway lighting if you don't have it. Timer from 4pm-11pm covers dark commute hours.
3. Clean, Clear Walkways
This is non-negotiable. Clear snow within 24 hours. Salt or sand for traction. Sloppy, icy walkways = neglected home. Keep shovel and ice melt near door for quick response.
4. Winter Containers
Fill porch planters with evergreen branches, birch logs, red-twig dogwood stems. Add battery-operated fairy lights for evening sparkle. Quick weekend project, lasts all winter.
5. Tidy Landscaping
Dead annuals from fall look terrible in snow. Remove them in November. Keep shrubs trimmed. Store or cover outdoor furniture properly.
DIY Winter Container Ideas
When summer containers die back, don't leave them empty. Winter arrangements add green to barren landscape and cost almost nothing.
Classic Evergreen Arrangement
Fill containers with cut evergreen branches (free from your yard or buy bundles at garden center). Add height with birch branches or red-twig dogwood.
Ingredients (per 18" container):
- • 6-8 mixed evergreen branches (pine, cedar, fir)
- • 3-4 birch branches or red-twig dogwood stems
- • 3-5 stems with berries or pinecones
- • Optional: battery-operated string lights
Longevity: Lasts entire winter in cold climates. Mist occasionally in dry weather.
Pro Tip: Stick branches directly into existing pot soil (frozen is fine). No need to remove old potting mix. Just push firmly into place.
Snow and Ice Management
This is where curb appeal meets safety and neighbor relations. Prompt snow removal is expected in winter neighborhoods.
Best Practices
- •Clear walks within 24 hours of snowfall (some cities legally require this)
- •Shovel to pavement, not just paths through snow
- •Push snow onto lawn, not street or neighbor's property
- •Ice melt for stubborn spots (calcium chloride works to -25°F, safer for concrete)
- •Sand for traction when too cold for ice melt to work
Avoid: Rock salt (sodium chloride) damages concrete and kills plants. Use calcium chloride or magnesium chloride products instead.
Maintaining Through Winter
Weekly Check (5 minutes)
- • Outdoor lights working?
- • Wreath still looking fresh?
- • Walks clear and safe?
- • Mail/packages picked up promptly?
After Each Snow
- • Shovel walks and steps
- • Brush snow off shrubs (heavy snow breaks branches)
- • Check gutters for ice dams
- • Refresh ice melt as needed
Monthly Tasks
- • Replace any burned-out light bulbs
- • Check winter containers, add branches if sparse
- • Clear leaves that accumulate against house
- • Inspect for damage from ice/wind
What to Avoid in Winter
Excessive Outdoor Holiday Decorations
Inflatable snowmen and excessive lights look festive in December, tacky in January-February. Remove by New Year's or keep minimal and elegant.
Leaving Dead Plants Visible
Brown, frost-killed annuals sticking out of snow look terrible. Remove them in November, or at minimum clip below snow level.
Piling Snow on Plantings
Don't shovel snow onto shrubs or evergreens. Heavy, compacted snow breaks branches and damages plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I maintain curb appeal in winter?
Focus on evergreen elements: fresh wreath, well-lit entrance, clean walkways, and proper snow removal. Keep outdoor lights functional (replace bulbs promptly). Add winter containers with evergreen branches and red berries. Most importantly, clear snow and ice within 24 hours - nothing ruins curb appeal faster than neglected walkways.
Ready for the Next Step?
As winter ends, prepare for spring cleanup to reset your curb appeal for the new season.