On the other hand, careful planning of the composition of grass species in your lawn, and the absence of winter snow will help ensure that these grasses will not brown out and be the richest looking part of your landscape during those desperate winter months. One should also never forget those plants that have special winter forms and functions. Chinese witch hazel, for instance, will flower with winter snows around it in mid-February. Sweetgum trees lose their leaves to reveal the spiked balls that hang on like ornaments through the winter. Red-twig dogwood is an elegant shrub whose red branches are only revealed after their foliage falls off.
Japanese maples are great four season trees, particularly the weeping varieties.
On many specimens, the intricate weeping habit is only distinguishable after the leaves have come off. Prune with the winter form of the tree in mind or even better, prune in winter. Avoid making cuts, such as topping, that may have value during the growing season but will look vulgar with the leaves off. Ensure that the integrity of plants whose form becomes prominent in winter is not compromised by the competition around it. For instance, if your prize Norway spruce is becoming thin because of all the shade trees in front of it, consider pruning back or thinning the canopies of the trees with which it competes.