Winter Estate Management: Preserving Beauty, Craftsmanship, and Peace of Mind

Winter has a quiet way of revealing the true craftsmanship of a well-designed landscape. When the gardens fall still and the air sharpens, the details matter even more. For luxury estates in Columbus communities such as Upper Arlington, Bexley, New Albany, Dublin, and Grandview, winter is the season that determines how gracefully your landscape awakens in spring.

“We view winter estate management not as maintenance, but as stewardship. It’s the art of protecting the investment, beauty, and design integrity of the outdoor spaces you treasure.” - Shawn Rine, CEO of Rine Landscape Group.

Below are core priorities of winter landscape and residential estate management that ensure your landscape looks exceptional in every season.

Elevated Evergreen Care with Anti-Desiccant Treatments

Your evergreens are architectural elements, living forms that frame your home year-round and bring structure to the landscape. But winter winds are unforgiving. They pull moisture from the foliage at a time when roots can’t replenish it, leading to browning and winter burn.

Drawing upon research from Ohio State University Extension and other leading horticultural programs, Rine Landscape Group recommends the use of anti-desiccant treatments for broadleaf evergreens. These treatments encapsulate foliage in a protective, breathable shield that helps maintain color and density during the coldest months while reducing the stress that causes spring dieback.

For high-value estate plantings, this is one of the most effective forms of winter protection. It also helps to preserve the sculptural form of hedges, topiaries, and evergreen screens.

Deep Hydration Before Dormancy

Just as fine wood and stone require conditioning, so do living landscapes. A final deep watering before the ground freezes ensures evergreens, specimen trees, and newly installed plantings enter winter hydrated and resilient. Research from Ohio State University Extension shows that well-hydrated plants experience significantly less winter damage.

Strategic Winter Pruning for Structural Excellence

Winter pruning is a moment of clarity. As foliage falls away, the true structure of deciduous plants becomes visible, allowing for precise, thoughtful work. While not mandatory, Rine Landscape Group's horticultural team also recommends using this dormant season to shape, refine, and strengthen:

• Deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs– Structural pruning to enhance form and remove dead, damaged, cross/rubbing or irregular branches

• Fruit trees – Corrective pruning to improve health, air circulation, and future fruit production

• Select deciduous shrubs – Strategic shaping while plants are dormant

In select situations, winter is also an ideal time to perform rejuvenation pruning on mature or overgrown deciduous shrubs. This technique involves selectively removing older, less productive stems to encourage healthy regrowth, improved structure, and renewed vigor in the coming seasons.

When applied thoughtfully, rejuvenation pruning can:

• Restore balance and proportion to aging shrubs

• Improve light penetration and air circulation

• Extend the lifespan of high-value plant material

• Reduce the need for replacement by revitalizing established plants

Our team evaluates each plant individually to determine whether rejuvenation pruning is appropriate, ensuring the approach aligns with the overall design intent and long-term health of the landscape.

Not all plant material responds the same way to dormant season pruning. For evergreen hedges and boxwoods, we perform only light structural maintenance during the winter months to preserve their refined form and prevent snow or ice damage. Major evergreen pruning is reserved for late spring and early summer, when plants can actively heal and recover.

This disciplined, species-specific approach ensures your landscape maintains its architectural integrity through winter challenges and restores beautifully in spring.

Insulating and Protecting Sensitive Plantings

Cold temperatures and freeze–thaw cycles can impact root systems and crowns. Taking a few targeted protective measures can help to safeguard the investment you made in your landscape:

• Winter mulch to balance soil temperatures

• Use burlap wraps for a winter screen to protect plants from excessive snow/ice load and the risk from overspray or direct contact with deicing chemicals.

• Protective coverings for delicate or high-value species

These subtle layers of protection preserve both the health and the aesthetic of curated garden areas.

Snow & Ice Management with Estate-Level Care

Winter weather highlights the importance of disciplined snow and ice practices. It is important to use landscape-safe materials and consider precise snow placement to ensure:

• Natural stone and hard surfaces remain pristine

• Turf and bed edges are protected

• Evergreens and hedges are not overloaded

• Entryways and drive courts remain clean and elegant

Many homeowners choose to partner with a professional landscape maintenance and residential estate management firm. Firms like Rine Landscape Group have access to advanced weather warning systems to closely monitor developing weather conditions and respond to keep your estate accessible and safe.

Winter Checks: The Quiet Luxury of Peace of Mind

Rine Landscape Group distinguishes itself by prioritizing quality, artistry, and exclusivity. Our meticulous attention to detail helps discerning clients in Bexley, Dublin, New Albany, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Worthington, and other Columbus communities to elevate their outdoor living environments. For clients who include winter residential estate management services as part of their support, our team conducts regular estate visits, walking your property with a curator’s eye, inspecting, adjusting, and ensuring every detail holds up beautifully throughout winter.

Winter estate management isn’t about enduring the season. It’s about emerging from it better. At Rine Landscape Group, we protect the artistry of your landscape so that, come spring, everything returns with the grace, vitality, and elegance your home deserves.