Winter Gardening
We're talking about shapes - leaf type and decoration. And let's take those one by one.
Plant Shape
When we look at plant shape, we’re not talking the shape with the leaves on but rather the outline and branch structure of the plant without leaves.
Does it have some winter interest when it’s covered in snow?
Does it have some winter interest without leaves of any kind?
Does it have an early bloom (before it leafs out - like Forsythia) so we can break our winter flower-fast with an early hit of color.
Look for plants with pleasing shapes (that you like). I think Sumacs like the ones in the picture have a great winter shape. They’re almost noxious weeds in the summer around my garden but in the late fall (red blooms) and winter they shine.
Sumacs covered in snow
Other folks like the Corkscrew Hazel with it’s twisted branches and winter silhouettes.
I also happen to like crabapple trees because not only do they hold snow nicely but if they hold onto their fruit, it looks like a wonderfully decorated garden Christmas tree on a snowy morning Wander garden centers or parks during the late fall, winter or early spring (when there are no leaves) to get a sense of a plant that appeals to you at this time.
Crabapples covered in ice
Leaf Type
In this case, the evergreens are the stars of the winter garden. Combining evergreen plants of different textures and different needle colors brings a vibrancy to the winter garden that can “almost” rival the summer garden. Do not stick to plain old green junipers. Look for the blues, the golden tipped, find upright forms and spruce with blue and silver needles (Dwarf Serbian Spruce) to combine into one lovely display of color.
Decoration
When the snow is on the ground, my sense of things is that no garden really needs decoration if it has a good selection of branch shapes and leaf types.
Add those to some hardscaping items (good statuary) and a garden is lovely on the harshest of wintery evenings.
But when there isn’t snow. When late fall and early spring (or mud season) arrives and there are no blooms to soften your late winter gardening efforts, this is the time to decorate urns and containers.
To add branches of berries and evergreen boughs to our outdoor decor.
Purists will argue it isn’t “gardening” but merely decorating. Me? I say do what makes you feel good and if a little greenery in a container does that during the depths of winter, then I’m all for that. These are a small sampling of things you can do in your own winter gardening efforts - in your outdoor garden.
Indoor winter gardening is another thing all-together.
Click here if you have a question about winter gardening
