March 6, 2019

Planning A Winter Garden

The Winter Garden – hydrangea and a network of shrubs and bushes for interest.

It’s easy to create a garden that bursts into bloom in the spring, but for the most intriguing gardens, plan a winter garden and think about year-round interest. When you select your plants for your landscape, think about winter interest or winterest.

In the coldest and barest months, it can be tough to look at your garden, everything seems bleak. But with a little planning, you can bring in plants that will help brighten up the winter landscape. Plus when the conditions are right and the snow falls, your yard will transform into a winter wonderland.

Create A Garden Framework

Creating a garden is an evolution. I know at the first sign of spring, we gardeners race outside and start breaking ground immediately. It’s hard to resist the urge, but before you make any big plans, it might be worth it to wait and see how the garden develops over each season.

The Winter Garden – ornamental Laceleaf Japanese Maple, so elegant in winter.

I had heard many times to first make decisions where trees and shrubs will go, these are the bones of the garden. This is something I didn’t really understand until I finally saw my garden in the winter.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of the garden bones in the spring when there are so many interesting flowers to plant. But staring at a blank canvas in the winter when everything goes dormant, made me see things in a different light.

The Winter Garden – my boxwood bushes still green in winter.

I realized right away that I needed to add in evergreens and trees to help frame the space. Not only does this bring in some color, but it also creates something interesting to look at.

A hidden bonus that I discovered, is that all those “bones”, create a support for falling snow. This allowed for patterns to appear and also revealed the form and structure of my garden – something I couldn’t see when everything is covered in leaves.

The Winter Garden – the majestic silver maple, gorgeous framework of branches.

But also don’t forget that you can also create bones with garden structures. Incorporating an obelisk, trellis or garden statue can also bring interest to the garden. In the spring these items create focal points and support for climbing vines, but in the winter, they also bring texture to the garden.

The Winter Garden – the back garden, you can see my obelisks adding interest.

Don’t Forget About Wildlife

One of the joys of having a garden is the excitement of seeing wildlife. Even when it’s bare and dreary, seeing wildlife in the garden reminds me that there is life all around us. When planning your garden, make sure to consider nesting sites and even food sources.

The Winter Garden – an early spring storm totally perplexed the robins.

Dense evergreens make ideal cover and nesting sites for birds and also open trees provide perching sites. For food, don’t forget to fill bird feeders and leave some flower seed heads exposed for foraging wildlife.

Winter Garden Interest – Bring In Some Whimsy

A garden is an extension of your home and if you have kids, it’s important to bring in a sense of fun and wonder. Plus when with winter, it’s important to remember to bring in touches of light and color.

The Winter Garden – my little fairy cottage covered in snow – so cozy!

Little Fairy Garden elements and statues help to bring color and also imaginative touches to the garden. To keep these items outdoors all year, I make sure to place them in a very sheltered spot, where they’re protected from extreme elements.

Winter Garden Final Thoughts

Planning a winter garden isn’t easy and it takes some patience, but a garden is forgiving. If something isn’t working change it and the garden will adapt.

The Winter Garden – ornamental plum tree covered in snow.

When everything is a blank canvas, take the opportunity and bring a critical eye to the garden. Try taking pictures now to help you figure out what plants will help bring some winter interest. You’d be surprised how a little planning can turn your garden into a haven all year long.

Looking for other winter gardening ideas? Check out my post about Forcing Paper White Flower Bulbs, it’s about trying some indoor gardening, when you can’t be outside.