It’s no big secret that most gardening begins in the spring and that most plants are harvested in the summer. However, if you’re willing to put in a little time to learn and a little work to pull it off, you can have a garden in the wintertime. Not only can your garden look incredibly attractive year round, but it can also yield actual produce in some of the year’s coldest months.
Before you can really begin planting a winter garden, the first step in the process is knowing your particular climate zone. Obviously, if you live in Florida, Texas, southern Cali or another warm-weather state, your climate is a lot different in the winter than Maine and Michigan. So figure out your climate, what types of plants can grow, and other factors before you make any big plans. This will let you know whether you can grow real food or if you’ll have to settle for eye candy.
No matter where your climate is, ornamental plants look great in the wintertime. While everyone else is fighting to keep their grass alive in the colder months, your yard can look fantastic with plenty of greenery. You can even plant blossoming plants in the winter, like snowdrops, witch hazel, hellebores, and others. Just remember to use another solid tip here and to always check your climate zone. You don’t want to spend the money and effort if things won’t grow.
Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and even some varieties of strawberries will all grow in the winter if you’re taking care of the plants. If you can keep them from outright freezing, you can have plenty of winter berries in practically any climate. As an added bonus, the blossoming berries will add a ton of color to your yard. You can have a great-looking garden yielding some great-tasting fruits.
Another way to really spruce up the eye appeal of your garden is to use colorful containers for what you’re planting. When it comes to a winter garden container, you can be as creative here as you want. You can purchase a basic clay container and paint it any color or design you choose, or you can find some very attractive containers online to purchase. The extra color here will really make your yard pop while others are lying dormant.
If you’re really concerned about having an attractive garden, then it will help if you complete the entire picture here in your yard. You shouldn’t settle for only good-looking plants and attractive containers. Creating an entire garden scene is how to add real beauty to the area. Try placing different ornaments in the yard. Think about getting a swing, a stone bench, an attractive arch, and other elements that help complete the scene.
When it’s all said and done, you can create practically any type of garden you want in the wintertime. From gardens that produce actual fruits, vegetables and berries, to gardens that are solely for eye appeal, you can garden in the winter and make your yard look great.