The holidays ignite a special kind of magic in neighborhoods across the United States — pumpkins glowing on porches in October, doorsteps lined with harvest decor in November and twinkling lights wrapping homes and trees come December. For many homeowners, it’s about creating a welcoming space that reflects their personality and makes guests feel instantly at home. For communities, it’s about capturing that same spirit on a larger scale — transforming streetscapes and entrances into festive, inviting spaces that spark pride and attract attention.
A thoughtfully planned holiday landscape sets the scene for the season. With the right mix of fall cleanup, smart planning and decor, your outdoor spaces can do more than look good — they can tell a story, set a mood and make every arrival feel like part of the celebration.
1. Have a Holiday Landscape Preparation Timeline
Planning out your maintenance in advance can help you avoid leaving things to the last minute. Follow this timeline for preparing your front and backyard for the holidays:
- Early to mid-fall: Clear away any larger piles of fallen leaves to prevent smothering your lawn, and tidy garden beds. This is also the time when evergreen trees will start to turn yellow on the inside, which is natural.
- Late fall: November is a great time to fertilize trees and shrubs, and mulching can protect roots during the upcoming cold weather.
- Early winter: If you expect very low temperatures or heavy snow, prepare newer trees and shrubs by staking them securely. Plan for snow removal and avoid piling snow on your plants.
2. Perform Essential Fall Cleanup Tasks
Before the fun of decorating comes the work of tidying. A clean, well-prepared landscape gives the holiday lights and decor a chance to shine against a crisp, neat backdrop. These tasks prevent winter damage and set the stage for a vibrant spring return. Here are some tips for cleaning your landscape:
Clear Away Leaf Piles and Debris
While fallen leaves aren’t always bad for your lawn — they provide essential habitats for wildlife and nutrients for your soil — you should still clear away sticks and larger piles of leaves that gather in your yard, and especially around your entryways and foundation. You can also mulch leaves to maintain a clean appearance while still providing nutrients for your soil.
Complete Final Lawn Care
As the weather cools, you’ll want to slowly begin lowering the blades of your mower to cut your grass slightly shorter than what you would normally mow it. Shortening your grass prevents diseases like snow mold and pest activity during the winter.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
Bare branches can look dramatic against the winter sky, but broken or overgrown limbs may distract from the festive feeling and be a safety risk. To avoid harming your plants, have a professional arborist prune your trees and shrubs to remove dead, damaged, or diseased limbs.
This improves the plant’s shape and prevents weak limbs from snapping under the weight of ice or snow, potentially injuring someone or damaging your property. A healthy tree will give you the perfect frame for stringing lights, hanging ornaments or dressing evergreens in sparkling garlands.
Prepare Garden and Flower Beds
After clearing away spent annuals, enrich your soil with a layer of compost. Then, have a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch applied around the base of your perennials. This insulates the roots from harsh freeze-thaw cycles. Avoid piling mulch directly against the plant stems, as this can trap moisture and lead to rot.
For optimal protection against winter weather, consider professional mulching services. These services offer a variety of mulch options, including organic choices like tree bark mulch, to best suit your plants’ needs.
3. Protect Your Plants From Winter Weather
Front and backyard prep for the holidays should include protecting cold-sensitive plants. A few steps keep your landscape healthy and ready to bloom again in spring, such as:
- Shield plants from wind and snow: Broadleaf evergreens like boxwoods, rhododendrons and hollies are especially vulnerable to winter burn, where harsh winds and sun strip moisture from their leaves. Protect them by creating a windbreak or loosely wrapping them in burlap. For upright shrubs, tying the branches together with twine can prevent them from splaying apart or breaking under heavy snow.
- Prevent salt damage: Standard rock salt, also known as sodium chloride, is highly corrosive and can cause severe damage to plant roots and surrounding soil. For walkways near garden beds and lawns, choose a plant-safe alternative like calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. These de-icers are effective at lower temperatures and are far less harmful to your landscape.
4. Plan Your Landscape Holiday Decor
The best holiday landscapes look intentional. Planning turns scattered decorations into a cohesive, polished, inviting display. Here are our top tips on how to make your landscape holiday ready:
Choose a Central Theme
When it comes to holiday landscaping ideas, a theme will guide your choices! You might go for an elegant “Winter Wonderland” theme filled with glowing white lights and frosted planters or something with a more playful spirit with candy canes, reindeer and Santa inflatables.
Map Out Your Lighting
Before you climb a ladder, grab a pencil. Sketch your home and yard, then mark where lights will go. Rooflines, trees and pathways make natural focus points. Balanced placement ensures your display glows without being overwhelming. Think of it like arranging a holiday centerpiece — every element has its place.
Select Your Decorations
Lights are the stars, but supporting actors matter too. Wreaths, garlands and festive planters add depth and variety. Place planters of evergreens and berries by your front entry, hang a wreath for instant charm and wrap garlands around columns and railings.
5. Install Holiday Lights and Decorations Safely
A sparkling holiday display should bring joy — not safety hazards and headaches. Safe installation means you can enjoy the view without worry. You can put up temporary holiday lights or use professional installers for outdoor lighting you can enjoy year-round. Professional installers have the equipment and expertise to handle complex rooflines and tall trees safely, but if you do it yourself, you need to be safe. Here’s how:
Choose the Right Holiday Lights
Modern LED lights are the professional standard for good reason. They use up to 75% less energy, last thousands of hours longer than incandescent bulbs and are made from durable epoxy plastic, not fragile glass. Because they produce very little heat, they are significantly safer for use on dry trees and greenery. If you want a warm white glow reminiscent of candlelight or multicolored strands that remind you of your childhood, LEDs deliver.
Follow Electrical Safety Best Practices
Installing lights outdoors, especially in snowy climates, can pose a safety hazard if not installed correctly. Here are essential safety practices for outdoor lighting:
- Only use lights and extension cords rated for outdoor use.
- Check all strands for frayed wires or broken bulbs before plugging them in.
- Connect to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
- Avoid overloading circuits by using multiple outlets.
- Use insulated hooks or plastic clips to hang your lights, as nails, tacks or metal staples can pierce the wires.
- Use outlet timers so your lights turn on and off automatically.
Add Other Festive Elements
Adding inflatables and wreaths will add charm, but be sure to secure them properly. Weather-resistant hooks and ties keep decorations in place through wind and snow. Pathway lights shaped like candy canes or snowflakes add whimsy while guiding guests safely to your front door.
Create a Stunning Holiday Landscape With Professional Help
Preparing your landscape for the holidays takes time, energy and creativity. At River Valley Landscapes, our team can handle everything from mulching and pruning to designing and installing a breathtaking outdoor space, polished and picture-perfect for the holidays.
Contact River Valley Landscapes today to create a stunning holiday landscape.
