We all know that how the
outside of a house looks can be just as important as how the inside looks. Well,
what happens when winter hits and all of the colorful flower arrangements
lining your beautifully paved walkway shrivel up? Seasoned gardeners know the
ins and outs of which annuals and perennials will survive the winter and we are
sharing some of their tips with you!
Planning ahead for the types of flowers that will be able to thrive in the winter months is crucial to maintaining a beautiful flower bed or vegetable garden. A few flowers that we recommend for the wintertime are the Snowdrop, Camellia, Bergenia and Hellebore.
Snowdrops (left) are tiny white bell-shaped flower suspended from short delicate stems and they are known to grow 6-10 inches in height.They enjoy well-drained soil, normal amounts of water and partial shade.
The camellia (right) is another flower that doesn’t mind a little chill in the air. It boasts in beautiful glossy evergreen leaves and eye-catching flowers parading in hues from pale pink to brilliant red. There are over 280 different varieties of this flower so there is virtually no end to the color and height combinations (most grow between 10-25 feet) for your garden and all they really need is rich soil, plenty of water, partial shade and some mulch if the snow starts falling.
The Bergenia (left) is bright colored flower in the perennial family. These evergreen perennials can grow up to two feet in height and produce large masses of brightly colored leathery flowers in shades from white to deep purple. Not only can they stand the coldness of winter but in the fall their bright green & heart-shaped leaves start changing color to different shades of bronze, mauve and purple.
Hellebores (below) are early bloomers that are fairly low maintenance.They can grow up to 15 inches and sprout flowers as early as January. Commonly known as the snow rose, they have colors ranging from white and pale pink to maroon and are great for bringing in the New Year!
Adding some berry shrubs around your garden is another great idea for winter. Some varieties of shrubs to consider are:
firethorne (Pyracantha), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Virginia creeper
(Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and chinaberry (Melia azedarach). These shrubs
will not only survive harsh weather conditions but they help birds to last the
winter as well. Planting these little bushes will add to your garden &
welcome beautiful birds to snack when their normal food supply is scarce in the
winter months. Berry bushes come in all shapes and sizes and each type will
require adherence to a different set of rules on soil, watering guidelines,
planting parameters and zones. With a little research, your berry bush will
blossom in no time!
If flowers aren’t really your idea of a
garden, planting a fall vegetable crop might be just the thing to garnish the
outside of your home in the winter. There is nothing quite like being able to
look to your own backyard to grab some cabbage or spinach to toss in the pot of
your favorite winter stew. Growing your vegetable garden all pivots around
identifying the approximate date when you can expect the first killing frost in
your area, and count backward the number of days needed for your vegetables to
fully mature. This will mark your planting date.
Most plant seed packets will
give dates to maturity that will help you put together a schedule. An upside to
a winter garden is a lower chance to pest problems in the colder season. Each
vegetable will require it’s own special care.
The following vegetables make
good autumn and
winter crops:
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Kohlrabi
- Leaf Lettuce
- Leek
- Mustard
- Onions
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Turnip
Sources:
http://www.americancamellias.com/display.aspx?catid
http://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-garden/professional-landscaping/basics/10-winter-plants.htm#page=10
