Before you say “yes” or “no” to this decision, Woodfield Landscaping recommends you consider the following factors.

Why you might want to have your pool installed in winter

The pool is cheaper. Because it’s an off-season, you can find some great deals on pools, pool components and accessories.

The labor is cheaper. For the same reason, it is easier to find a Maryland pool installation contractor who would do the job for much less than what you would have paid in summer. You will also have quite a selection of skilled craftsmen to choose from, since winter is typically a slow season for them.

Both you and the workers can take the time to do a quality job. You will have several months until you can actually use the pool, and the contractors will have plenty of time to dedicate to your project.

You can have a pool ready for the season. The installation will be completed well before the hot summer days, so you’ll be able to use your pool as soon as the season starts.

Why you might want to wait until it’s warmer out

The ground tends to freeze. Depending on where you live, the ground freezes in winter up to a certain distance. When the ground is frozen, the excavation becomes difficult, if not impossible. Even if the excavation poses no problems, the compacting might, because frozen ground can’t be properly compacted and may cause uneven settlement later on.

It’s labor-intensive. Even though the labor is cheaper, a winter pool installation might require more labor than a similar project completed in summer.

Unexpected delays. Winter weather is often unpredictable, and if the temperature drops too low or a sudden snow storm leaves the worksite completely covered, you will have to “freeze” the project (no pun intended.)

Can’t test it. The installation might go fine, but it’s not recommended to run the pool equipment in cold weather when the water may freeze inside the pipes.  You will have to wait until the pool season to open your pool and test everything, so you need to make sure you have at least 6-months warranty on all of the pool components.

As you see, you will need to asses all the risks and benefits in your particular situation to determine whether installing an in-ground pool in winter is worth it. And if decide in favor of winter pool installation in Maryland, be sure to let us know and we’ll take a good care of you!

If you like to stay warm but still love the look of the outdoors, Woodfield Landscaping has a few quick, easy ideas to bring a little bit of autumn into your home.  The best part is, all of these ideas use objects you can probably find in your own yard!

Leaves, Leaves Everywhere

Autumn means most trees are turning beautiful shades of red and orange before dropping their leaves.  Take advantage of this by collecting fallen leaves that are in good shape.  Once you’ve got a good stock, here is what you can do with them:

>>Coat leaves individually in wax to preserve them, then hang them in your windows using clear thread or fishing line for a unique, colorful fall look.
>>Use a plain wreath from the craft store and some hot glue to make a festive fall door decoration.  Coat your leaves in wax beforehand to ensure that their color lasts.
>>Place leaves between two sheets of wax paper, then gently go over them with an iron to melt the sheets together.  Add ribbon to seal the edges and create unique holiday placemats.

Acorns and Pinecones and Rocks, Oh My!

Plenty of people find themselves with yards full of acorns and pinecones when fall comes.  Luckily, they make great free craft supplies for adults and kids alike!

-     Get your kids together for this one: collect open, dry pinecones and turn them on their side.  Have the kids trace their hands on red, orange and yellow paper, then cut them out and glue them to the back.  Add a neck and face, some googly eyes, and a beak, and you’ve got adorable little turkeys to decorate your holiday table!  In winter, use white acrylic paint and red felt to turn pinecones into snowmen.

-     For another kids’ craft, coat pinecones in peanut butter and roll them in birdseed, then hang them from trees or bushes outside.  Then, enjoy watching the wildlife become a part of your Maryland landscape design.

-     Use spray glue and lots of glitter to jazz up pinecones or acorns, then hang them in windows or fill baskets and vases to place around the house.  They even make a classy-but-fun table decoration for a dinner party.

-     Glue acorn caps to clay pots to create unique and trendy planters for flowers all year long.  You could also hot glue the caps to a plain wreath for your front door!

-     Fill up baskets, bowls and vases with acorns and pinecones fresh from the outside for a more rustic, natural feel.

-     Collect smooth rocks and paint them for the upcoming holidays: make Jack-O-Lanterns, black cats, even ghosts and goblins for Halloween.  For Thanksgiving – pumpkins, turkeys, and little pilgrims!

Branch Out

Don’t throw those fallen branches in the yard waste bag – bring them inside!

-     Hot glue a few long branches together and add some ribbon or other decoration to make a beautiful swag for over door and entryways.
-     Glue shorter pieces around the outside of small glass votive holders for your fall and winter candles.
-     Arrange branches in a plain glass vase for a more modern decorating twist.  To add color, fill the bottom with leaves and acorns instead of marbles or stones.

Cooler weather does not mean you have to stop enjoying your yard.  While the work done by your local Maryland landscaping professionals is surely beautiful, when the winter comes, it’s less likely you’ll want to be outside to enjoy it!  So, use a few of these ideas to bring a touch of the outdoors inside and enjoy nature all year long.

At Woodfield landscaping, we have one advice for you: embrace the death in nature and use it to get your yard Halloween-ready using these tips.

Spice up the planters

For the plants that stay outside during the winter or until late fall, decorate the planter. Add spooky stickers, ribbons or cobwebs to make the Halloween reference. A creative idea is to use pumpkins for planters, so that a plant looks like it’s growing from the inside of a pumpkin.

If you have empty planters, use them to create an illusion of a dead garden. Instead of decorating the planter itself, focus on the contents. Make an arrangement of twigs and dead branches; add some cobwebs, plastic spiders or some slimy goo to make it look like the plants are dead, neglected or diseased.

Flowerbeds to graveyard

Turn spent flowerbeds into a mini graveyard. Get plastic grave plates or build wooden crosses to mark the “graves.” There is a lot of room for your creativity from inscribing custom names and dates on the tombstones to adding skeletons and body parts to the scene. You can even leave a few dead flowers for a more dramatic look.

Rework the lighting

For the month of October, you can change all your outside lighting bulbs to black light or some colored light like red or orange. Although not practical, this will definitely make your house stand out in the neighborhood. If you don’t want any drastic changes, create a few spotlights to highlight certain design features, such as a graveyard or a scarecrow.

Populate the bushes

If you have bushes and shrubbery growing along a walkway or next to the door, use them to scare your visitors. Dense bushes are a perfect place to hide motion-sensor devices that would jump out or make a noise when someone approaches. For a less scary experience, stuff the bushes with glowing mean eyes: enough to give someone the creeps. Here is a tutorial on how to do it.

Decorate the trees

There are plenty of hanging decorations you can use for the trees. Make sure they are not too heavy, won’t present a fire hazard or damage the tree in any way. Because trees are tall, we recommend going with larger décor pieces that will stand out.

Add a Gothic touch with black plants

There are a few plants that have naturally black foliage or flowers. If you are going for a scary and gloomy Halloween yard look, they would be perfect. Go here to see the assortment and read more about which plants will work better for Maryland landscaping in climate zone 7.

Have fun decorating, and if you need any help with the fall yard maintenance, contact Woodfield Landscaping and we’ll be happy to get your yard ready for the winter.