Winter Gardening

My husband loves my garden in the winter because he can "see everything".  But I still like to have things to looks at in my garden even in the winter. It's not easy to enjoy your garden in winter. When it's too cold to go outside, and your beautiful flowers have all died off, your garden is pretty much a no-go zone.  In lieu of summer's blazing color, many gardeners brace themselves for a winter of gray and brown, if not flat-out white. However, there are some ways of enjoying your outside space even in the colder months.

A winter garden provides many benefits and is a great addition to every home. Many believe that gardening must cease once the first frost hits, but that simply is not true. There are several ways that gardeners can enjoy the wonders of gardening year round including the use of greenhouses, growing plants indoors with containers, and planting crops that do well in outside, cool temperatures.

 

A variety of plants may be grown during winter and gardeners that take advantage of these opportunities enjoy many benefits.  No matter if your winter is just a little chilly or bone-freezing cold, try these tips to brighten your landscape...

1. Foliage, evergreens and ornamental Plants: One ideal way to make the most of your garden in winter is to put in plants that thrive even in the cold. Most flowering plants can't deal with cold conditions, so opt for foliage plants instead. There are lots that have fabulous, eye-catching foliage. You can also bring in ornamental woodies. Dozens of woody shrubs and trees add colorful stems, berries and/or bark. Evergreens that do well in my Coastal Southern garden are osmanthus fragrans, loropetalum, and Magnolia. When I lived in Georgia NE of Atlanta Leland Cypress, Pine trees, junipers, and  flowering Quince did well in winter.

2. Room With a View: You can also enjoy your garden by making the most of the view from the window that overlooks it. Try to design your garden so that the view is not obscured. Plant lots of interesting shrubs and cut back or remove anything that obstructs your view. Then even on cold days you can sit by the window and look out.

3. Fabulous Florals: Even in cold temperatures you can still have flowers, but you need to choose plants that can survive your local conditions. Cyclamen, snowdrops, pansies and primulas/primrose are just a few of the flowers that can cope even in snowy weather. Check out your local plant center for flowering plants that can cope in your local climate.

 

4. Plant for Wildlife: One way to get some color and something to view in your garden is to plant things in your garden to attract birds. Feeders, water source and roosting boxes will encourage birds in your yard. But planting berry producing plants for birds to eat and evergreens to provide protection from predators and from cold windy weather is another way to encourage birds in your yard.

5. Visit Gardens for Inspiration:  Pay your local public gardens a visit and you'll get lots of ideas about what to grow. They may even produce lists of the plants that you'll see in the winter season. Some gardens also sell plants, so you'll be able to pick up those plants that you most like.

6. Plan for other Seasons: The winter period is also a great time to start planning what you want to do with your garden in the coming seasons. Perhaps you want to completely redesign your garden and landscape it. Or you'd just like to plant something new in your flowerbeds. Whether your gardening ambitions are big or small, winter is a great time to note the 'bones' of your garden. You'll soon come up with some inspiration. Studying seed catalogs in the winter is also a great way to get ideas and spend cold winter days.

7. Preparation and Maintenance: Winter is also a useful time to prepare your garden for the spring and summer. Even in winter there are usually some jobs to be done. You won't need to cut the grass, but there are still trees to be pruned, compost to be spread and beds to be dug (as long as the ground isn't frosty). Get your garden into good shape for the coming season.

8. Hardscaping rules: In the uncluttered conditions of a winter garden, elements like the play of light and shadow and the curve of a walkway take on increased importance. Take advantage of this time to analyze the design of your landscape.

9. Plant colorful containers: Bring them close to a window where you can easily enjoy them from indoors. In areas with moderate winters, plants like heucheras, autumn fern, sedums and pansies keep right on going. In colder areas, conifers will accept the responsibility of colder weather. Before you plant, know how cold your plants and pots will go. Clay pots will not take to freezing weather.

10. Painting and Photos: There is one more way you can enjoy your garden during the winter. If you have some artistic abilities try painting your garden when it is at the height of it's beauty or try four season paintings of your garden. Painting is not my talent but I do enjoy taking photos of my garden and the birds that visit my garden. With the right camera they photos can be enlarged and framed. I've been lucky enough to have some of my garden photos show up on local TV in two cities!

Winter can seem a dull time of year for your garden, but with the right choice of plants and a little planning, you can make the most of that precious outdoor space. There is still much to enjoy even when it's cold, so get some gardening books visit some local gardens and start planning your perfect garden.

Tips for January

Now that I'm finished with visitors at Thanksgiving and Christmas, an after Christmas trip to Florida and a bout of illness I'm ready to get back to gardening and my blog. It has been such a warm winter here that it was well into December before many of my summer volunteer flowers died. When we drove up to our house after our trip to Florida I saw that some of my tulips had started to bloom! Many of the plants that should still be dormant are already showing signs of coming back. I'm wondering if this warm weather will continue to fool my plants making them comeback before what is usual for them. Of course southern gardeners always worry a late frost or freeze will damage early spring blooming plants and that may be more likely this year.Right now Tulips, Loropetalum, Osmanthus fragrans, Verbena, & Pansies are all blooming in my yard I discovered some leaf lettuce in one of my pansy pots!

Here are some things you can do this month:

• Clear a space for starting seed is indoors and do an inventory of what you'll need. A table or shelf with an adjustable light fixture above is a good setup for most of us. Now is a good time to shop for supplies like flats, seed-starting mix, containers and labels.
• Keep holiday plants looking their best by removing any decorative foil. Punch holes in the bottom for proper drainage if there is no hole in the pot.
• Add a bit of color to your indoor garden by placing silk blooms, colorful dried materials or cut flowers in a water pick among your household plants.
• Start a windowsill herb and greens garden. You can grow parsley, basil, marjoram, mint, rosemary and oregano as well as leaf lettuce, spinach and other greens indoor.
• Keep the beauty of your garden alive year-round. Enlarge and frame your favorite garden photos.
• If you have a Garden Journal check your notes/photos on last years garden and narrow down the list as shop garden catalogs arriving mail by now. If you don't have a Garden Journal consider starting one this month.

Micro-climate Gardening

A couple of years ago I was gardening on an early spring day and uncovered several impatiens that had over wintered in a flowerbed. The summer flowers were in a protected spot up against our house and were buried under several inches of mulch. I’d discovered a microclimate in my yard. I’ve also discovered other protected growing areas in my yard against a fence and near my pond.

Within a given yard, different areas have different growing conditions, known as micro-climates. These planting pockets can offer a protected microclimate where marginally hardy plants can survive. By selecting plants adapted to each microclimate, you’ll see the most favorable growing conditions. Check your yard to see if you have any of these common microclimates.

Wind- Walls, solid fences, and buildings create wind turbulence as wind travels over and around them. Wind turbulence can damage broad-leaved evergreens, such as rhododendron or boxwood and knock over tall plants. Semi permeable barriers, such as hedges, trellis or nonsolid fence, offer the most effective wind shelter.

Surface colors- Dark colors in buildings; mulches, rocks or fences absorb daytime heat and radiate it at night, forming a warm pocket suitable for frost-tender plants. Light colors reflect heat onto plants during the hottest part of the day, perfect for growing succulents.

Raised beds- Soil in raised beds warms and drains earlier in spring, which hastens planting dates and plant growth. South-facing raised beds stays warmer in winter, allowing tender plants to over winter.


Exposure- Northern exposures tend to be cool, creating a shorter growing season. Southern-facing spots are warmer, offering moderated winter temperatures. Eastern exposures tend to have moister soil; western-facing beds have dryer soil and harsh afternoon sun. In wintry climates, these conditions can combine with cold nights to crack bark on young trees.

If you discover a microclimate or two in your yard see if you can take advantage of them by planting to the strength of the micro climates

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What’s growing in January?

What’s growing in January? It has been unusually cold this winter and I was surprised to see I still had a few vegetables and herbs in my garden. As you can see by the photo I still have some red leaf and Oakleaf lettuce, Lemon Balm (far left), garlic chives and rosemary in my small kitchen garden. This garden is in a very protected spot. Parsley and spinach are still growing in my raised bed but the lettuce did not survive. I really think I’ll try a cold frame for next fall/winter. I like having lettuce just a few steps away when I need it instead of driving to the store for fresh lettuce. What is a cold frame? It is a protected plant bed that has no artificial heat added. A cold frame has a transparent roofed enclosure, is built low to the ground, and used to protect plants from cold weather. It can extend the growing season weeks or months. I also found this anole sunbathing, not sure if he was growing but soaking up some heat at least!

Water for the birds!

In winter I turn my attention more to the wildlife that comes to my yard than the plants. The birds that visit my yard are colorful and are like flowers with wings!I put out seed and suet out for birds. But more importantly I provide a regular supply of clean water. Birds need water for drinking and bathing and is particularly important during the WINTER when natural supplies may be frozen.

Water to bathe in is equally important, especially in winter. It is essential that birds keep their feathers in good condition, and bathing is an important part of feather maintenance. Dampening the feathers loosens the dirt and makes the feathers easier to preen. When preening, the bird carefully rearranges the feathers and spreads oil from the preen gland so they remain waterproof and trap an insulating layer of air underneath.

There are many ways of providing water in the garden. The simplest way is a birdbath. This is essentially a dish of water that needs to be functional - the aesthetic aspects are there to please us, not the birds. The location of your garden and the type of vegetation immediately around it will determine what birds will visit your bird bath, and in what numbers. Sitting of the bath is very important - birds will only use it if they feel safe. Birds get excited and pre-occupied about bathing, and tend to be more vulnerable than at other times. Birds will need to have clear visibility as they bathe, nearby bushes or trees to provide cover if alarmed, and perches to use when preening.

I have a standing birdbath that I heat in winter to keep a constant source of water. I also use large shallow plant saucers on the ground in several locations that are very popular with some birds lie the Brown Thrasher. My pond and waterfall provide a steady source water for birds year-round.

It is important that Birdbaths be cleaned regularly as they soon build up a layer of algae, dead leaves or bird droppings. Give the bath a thorough clean every week or so. Scrub the sides and bottom to remove algae and other dirt. Use only cleaning products that are safe for birds or you can use dilute household disinfectants, but make sure that you rinse the bath out thoroughly to remove any traces of chemicals.

Provide an unfrozen source of water in your yard and see how many colorful birds you can attract.

Patio greenhouse

November 20, 2010

My yard has already experienced a very light frost a little over a week ago. It did not touch the cool season vegetables or herbs but some of the perennials and annuals did die. I pulled them out and have been adding bulbs and more Giant Red mustard; colorful Kale, snapdragons and pansies. The night the weather forecast was for possible frost I set up my little patio greenhouse for my tender plants. This greenhouse I purchased at Lowe’s several years ago does a pretty good job of protecting some of my cutting and tender houseplants. I add a light bulb for heat when it is forecast to get below freezing. The trick is not to open during the day and let the heat build up and I only use the light at night. A few tropical plants won’t survive this so I do bring them indoors for the really cold nights.