Alright, we’ll hop on the Christmas in July trend, landscaping style. When it comes to choosing plants that beautify your gardens in the Chicagoland area, most of us think about spring, summer, and fall. After all, who is worried about landscaping when we’re dealing with snow and ice? But if the curb appeal of your home is important to you year-round, there are plants and shrubs you can choose that remain lovely even when the snow flies. Here are some of our favorites.

One of the most common questions we are asked as local landscape designers is how to choose plants, trees, and shrubs that are able to withstand the extreme weather we’re accustomed to in the Midwest. Here’s the inside scoop, directly from Carlos Montano, the second-generation owner of Montano’s Landscaping.