Visions of neatly trimmed hedges, green lawns and vibrant flowers may be your inspiration when you hire a landscape designer for your new property. But it's also wise to remember that there's a long stretch of time when winter sets its cold, rainy spell over the land. Trees lose their leaves, lawns lose their luster and flowering plants lose the bright blooms that dappled the landscape with spots of color. An experienced designer will have solutions to overcome the grim, gray appearance that many gardens have from late fall until early spring.