Cold Season Services
Each changing season is a part of an annual revolution of the living world. While the Fall colors hold on, the cool nights and frosty mornings are a sign of the season to come. Many northeasterners abandon their gardens after the long days of summer end, settling into their busy lives and forgetting the many joys of cold season gardening. But there is still important work to be done. Seasonal changes offer us the opportunity to do things we cannot when the weather is warmer.
Frozen ground? The perfect time to formatively prune most trees and shrubs.
Fallen leaves? Free mulch for garden beds.
Aggressive vines, brambles and thickets? With no ticks around it is the perfect time to get dirty building trails or cutting back brush.
Unseasonably warm weather? Time to plant trees and shrubs.
Starting seeds? Build raised beds and refresh garden soils.
Rather than viewing winter as a period of inactivity, we see it as a valuable time for thoughtful intervention, ecological stewardship and planning. Garden enhancement accomplished during the quiet months of winter will deliver lasting impact and even more excitement when the weather begins to warm and the seasons transition once again.
At One Nature, our approach has always been centered around the character of a place. We work with our clients to improve function and experience of natural spaces while promoting ecological systems. Our philosophy extends beyond installations to the care of existing properties with a focus on living systems and species restorations. This winter we are expanding our services to focus on several areas where meaningful improvements and maintenance will help promote the health and character of your spaces.
Cold Season Stewardship
Through stewardship our teams maintain the health of established landscapes. This work requires site-specific care tailored to the needs of each property. Late fall is an excellent time to remove overly aggressive plants before they contribute another season of seeds to the seed bank. Wooded areas would love some added attention: cooler temperatures and drier conditions allow for selective pruning and trail building or maintenance. There is time now to address the imperfections, broken stonework or rotten wood you looked at all summer but had no time to repair.
Winter also provides the chance to observe drainage patterns and sun exposure through the movement of melted snow. Drainage issues and erosion concerns can be identified and mediated before the rainy months of spring arrive. These efforts maintain what is already valuable in your space while ensuring the progression of ecological and structural success.
Stonework and Carpentry
Many people think of One Nature as a plant-based company, and of course we are. But we also build a tremendous amount of stone patios, decks, fences, stone walls and more. As long as there is no snow on the ground, we can work! We use local materials and low carbon footprint building methods to enchant landscapes of all kinds. Working with local materials helps us reinforce our commitment to bioregional care.
Landscape Planning
The colder months are great for moving your idea of a renovation, restoration or habitat project into an actionable plan. Our group of merry experts can evaluate existing site conditions and work with you to develop an approach that is best suited for your needs. We can help develop a concept plan and estimate that suits almost any budget.
Or maybe you just want to talk with an expert? We offer garden coaching and custom consultations, both virtual and in-person, that will help get you pointed in the right direction. Expert consultants, gardeners and stewards will help troubleshoot existing challenges and answer questions about what species to plant and where, how best to expand your existing garden, and share design techniques that help unlock the hidden potential of your space. Sometimes having a conversation with an experienced landscape professional is all you need to move forward on your projects with confidence.
Pre-order Plants for Spring
With how crazy the weather has been, it is difficult to align spring planting windows of opportunities with busy schedules. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the plants you want arrived at your doorstep, ready for you to plant? Contact us and we can work out a planting list with you in the cold season so you are set up for success when your garden’s alarm clock goes off.
Everything is Site Specific
This list above is a quick summary of all the kinds of work we do, but of course every project is different. As part of our environmental mission as a team, we believe strongly that every square inch of our bioregion is important and requires care and attention. Get in touch with us and we will customize our approach to suit the needs of your landscape.