Creating Your Own Winter Garden

What do you think of when you reflect on winter and gardening? Staying inside – away from the snow? Maybe you think of leafing through a plethora of seed catalogs or drawing out your vegetable plot. Some think of Christmas trees, wreaths, and other evergreen decorations. But I have found that even more people think that the winter is a time of emptiness in the garden, a time of gray solitude.

When most people create their garden, they design it with the plan of enjoying it during the spring and summer months. Then at the end of summer, they are ready to put their gardens to bed in the fall. But what about the fourth season? These people are not planning to have winter interest in the garden – and are then left with completely gray, barren plots come wintertime.

What if I told you that you that it didn’t have to be this way? You can plan out your garden for all four seasons and still have color and interest in your garden during the winter months. Trust me – you absolutely can!

Just like there are gardens designed to be suitable for catching rainwater, or those that are inspired by Asia, native plants and meadows, or the woodlands, there are gardens that have been specifically designed to have winter interest. They are designed to be both seen looking out of a window from the inside of your home, and to be enjoyed by walking through with a knit hat on and a warm cup of tea. These winter gardens will bring unexpected vibrancy, much needed color, and plenty of texture to your garden or landscape. What a stunning way to design your landscape!

To enjoy your winter garden, you need to plant it now. (Caution: If you continue reading, you will want to get plant a winter garden as soon as you are done reading this article!) Plant your trees, keep them watered until they are well established, and fertilize them as needed.

Keep reading to find out what my 5 top plants are for creating a winter garden.

5 Plants to Create a Winter Garden:

Add Style and Fragrance: If you are looking for a plant with flowers for the winter, plant the witch hazel to enjoy beautiful and fragrant yellow blooms in the winter. There are many varieties to choose from, each with gorgeous color. Witch hazels are low maintenance shrubs that are beautiful year round. They are not just attractive to our eyes. Planting the witch hazel will attract bees looking for nectar.

Evergreens: While evergreens are often planted singly as focal points and accents for yards, or in lines to create a living privacy screen, planting a variety of evergreen trees and shrubs intermingled with your other plants will give great structure and texture to your winter garden.

Evergreens are a classic way to add elegance and a pinch of drama to your landscape. They are stately, and their boughs are wonderful for using in arrangements. And, depending on where you plant your new evergreens, they will give you some desired privacy in your landscape when the deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall.

Have you looked through our evergreen catalogue, but you can't decide on what evergreen you would want to grow? Let me give you my recommendation. You can’t go wrong with planting a classic evergreen like the White Pine Tree . It is a classic for good reason: it has long, soft needles that create a feathery effect, and its cones are long, without any hint of sharp spikes.

Even More To Add!

Bring the Birds: If you decide to plant one holly in your yard, make it a native American holly. You truly can’t go wrong when you plant an American Holly tree. This tree has bright red berries that will bring many birds to your garden in search of winter food, and its spiny leaves provide great protection for them against predators. Robins especially love the berries from this tree and will arrive in droves. The holly tree is often associated as being a symbol of winter, and its dark green leaves against a backdrop of snow is simply divine. You will want more than one of these hollies! Plant two or more to create a beautifully flanked walkway that will keep its excellent color all through the season.

Add Visually Interesting Bark: Plants in winter gardens do not need to be limited to actively flowering or evergreen trees and shrubs. You can plant trees that have interestingly textured bark. If your zone permits, you can plant the Crepe Myrtle. It is not just admired for its beautiful flowers -- this tree has an elegant stature and gorgeous exfoliating bark that will add great visual interest to your garden. If you have a small space, plant the Muskogee Crepe Myrtle. It is a compact variety with stunning lavender blooms that will attract plenty of butterflies to your garden in the summertime.

The Nose Knows: Gardening is not just about pretty plants. It is also about great fragrance. In a winter garden, there is no better way to add depth to the garden than to have aromatic and resinous barks. Plant cedars to enhance the garden. Cedar trees are beautiful evergreens that can be enjoyed year round, with beautiful aromatic bark and needles. This tree will attract plenty of wildlife to your landscape: get your binoculars ready to enjoy watching winter birds like the cedar waxwings from afar.

Why Create a Winter Garden?

Creating a winter garden for your landscape is an excellent way to add aesthetic and curb appeal to your landscape. Winter gardens are a truly elegant way to spice up your home, and they are able to be enjoyed thoroughly due to their interesting bark, berries, and unexpected flowers. Not only do winter gardens create great levels of beauty in your garden, but by planting a winter garden, you are also enhancing the ability of wildlife to find food and shelter.

Winter gardens aren’t just for aesthetic appeal; they can help alleviate symptoms of seasonally related depression, too. You will find that walking through your winter garden will bring you a clear mind and tranquility and give you a renewed sense of vigor. Take a brisk walk, or a stroll at a leisurely pace to set your tone for the day.

These plants are hardy and great performers. Rest assured that they will hold up during snowfalls – just keep in mind to watch them with ice storms. The best part about planting these trees, is that they are low maintenance plants that will benefit you for many years to come, without much effort by you. They will not need consistent pruning or fertilization. These trees are sure to be enjoyed by many generations.

Now that you have your list of trees and shrubs that you need, it’s time for planting! The sooner you have your new plants in the ground, the sooner they will become well established in your garden. Plant your winter garden now to enjoy it during the cold winter months.