Is your garden vibrant from spring to fall but becomes dull once winter arrives? Just because the temperatures are dipping doesn’t mean your garden has to die. There are many plants that can keep your yard looking alive, lush, and full of color during the darkest, coldest days of the year.

But how do you achieve this? Selecting hardy plants that introduce vibrant colors, interesting textures, and a touch of life into your space throughout the cold months.

Below we explore a few winter garden plants that will help keep your garden looking beautiful all year long despite the cold weather.

Evergreens

Evergreens are your best bet for keeping your garden green throughout early winter. Planting them is a great way to create texture and height and have foliage and color all year. There are plenty of evergreens to choose from, including boxwood, holly, and juniper.

Look into boxwood for some classic winter vibes. This shrub boasts small, dense green leaves that retain color all year long and can be shaped or pruned into different shapes. Keep them in line as a hedge or let them grow wild for a more natural winter garden look.

Then there's holly. Sure, it gives off Christmas vibes, but it isn’t just for decking the halls during the festivities. Its dark green, sharp-pointed leaves and red berries add a touch of interest and texture to your yard all year round. Holly is spiky and prickly to fend off wildlife who might try to nibble in your garden. It can be grown as a hedge, tree, or shrub.

Looking for something that screams it's holiday season? Juniper has you covered. This evergreen plant can be grown as a shrub or tree but also has varieties that stay low as a ground cover. Its rich blue-green foliage and fresh aroma keep your garden looking lively even in the chilly months.

Winter Blooms

Flowers in winter? It’s not a myth! Some plants like to rebel against the cold and bless us with winter blooms.

One such plant is hellebores. These stunning perennials will bring winter colors of cream, green, pink, purple, red, and white to your otherwise dormant landscape. Hellebores, often known as Lenten or Christmas roses, will liven up your yard throughout the year. They are best known for their gorgeous white blossoms that appear in early winter or midwinter.

If you’re after something truly eye-catching, consider witch hazel. This native shrub opens strappy flowers in late winter to early spring. Some witch hazel varieties are fragrant, with flowers occurring in shades of red, orange, gold, or yellow.

Though not really a flower, winterberry is another must-have for your winter landscape. This shrub has bright red berries that add color and vibrancy to your garden. To get these berries, ensure you plant both a "female" and a "male" plant for pollination. Winterberry’s vibrant display is also a favorite for birds, so you’ll likely have some feathered friends visiting your yard for a winter snack.

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could paint my garden with color in winter,” well, red twig dogwood is basically that—a living paintbrush. Its striking red stems stand tall against the winter snow to offer both color and texture long after the leaves have fallen.

Then, there's the quiet charm of snowdrops. These frost-tolerant bulb flowers bloom in late winter and can push through snow-covered grounds. Their dainty, nodding white blossoms often bloom while snow is still on the ground. Snowdrops also spread easily to create flower-filled drifts that add color to your winter garden.

Ornamental Grasses

Don’t overlook the impact of ornamental grasses during the cold weather. Ornamental grasses like switchgrass and feather reed grass give structure, form, movement, and sound to your winter garden. They thrive and perform well in the winter landscape and are worth growing for their winter interest alone.

Switchgrasses form a V-shaped silhouette, with many varieties having a blue-to-gray tone that changes to a bright golden color in winter. Their light and airy seed heads add interest to your landscape.

Feather reed grass, on the other hand, is a cool-season grass that stays upright and retains its shape to create elegant silhouettes against the snow.

Planning Your Winter Garden

Great winter gardens don’t happen by chance, and it’s never too early to start planning yours. They require proper planning and preparation. Choose plants well-suited for your climate, and group them based on their light and water needs.

But creating a flourishing winter garden isn't just about choosing the right plants. It's also about the strategy behind it. While you can't control the weather, you can certainly influence how your garden handles it. One key component is mulch. Mulching helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Spread a good layer of mulch to protect your plants’ roots from the cold and add texture to your winter garden. You can opt to use bark, wood chips, or cedar.

Also, don’t forget about your garden soil. Healthy soil equals healthy winter plants, which equals lush gardens. Consider adding compost and fertilizers if your soil appears unhealthy.

Winter Is the New Summer

Winter doesn’t mean that your garden should hibernate. By choosing the right plants and creating a conducive environment, you can enjoy a vibrant yard full of character all year long.

Just plan ahead, play around with color and texture, and watch as your winter plants bloom.

And remember, Grange Co-op is your one-stop shop for quality soil, fertilizers, gardening tools, and more.