Winter can mean that your garden looks bare and drab, as the last of the leaves fall and the autumn blooms finally wither. However, there are some ways you can brighten your garden with texture and colour throughout the winter months. This is especially important if you like to sit and enjoy the view from an orangery or conservatory, for example.
Plant winter flowers
We tend to associate flowers with summer, but some varieties bloom during the winter. Clematis are always a good source of winter colour and greenery. They will grow in borders and beds and can also be trained to grow up trellises.
Pansies are another seasonal favourite to keep your garden looking vibrant and attractive. They will flower from October to March in hanging baskets, beds, pots, and window boxes. For some abundant textured foliage, you could also plant some Hellebores.
Choose evergreen shrubs
A good number of evergreen shrubs will mean your outdoor space remains alive and inviting all year round. Holly is a much-loved shrub of the British garden, because of its beautiful glossy green leaves and contrasting red berries. You can also cut sprigs to decorate your home at Christmastime!
Daphne will produce delicate pink flowers during the winter, and also provide a gentle fragrance should you want to spend some time outdoors. The camellia is another popular choice, as they are hardy, produce stunning flowers, and thrive in most conditions with minimal maintenance.
Cultivate ground cover
To avoid dull lifeless borders which get taken over by weeds, choose some ground cover plants which continue to thrive throughout the winter months. Common UK varieties include evergreen candytuft, which keeps its green foliage all year round, and produces white flowers in the spring.
European ginger has attractive heart-shaped leaves, and some varieties of bugleweed produce colourful pink, white and green leaves throughout the colder months. Many people also plant succulents in borders and pots to add variety, and subdue weed growth.
Attract winter wildlife
Adding a bird table and a few feeders to your garden will help small birds survive a tough time of year, and provide you with added interest. Some birds such as starlings will eat most foods. If you want to attract sparrows and finches, try putting out seeds, the RSPB advises.
Robins and thrushes prefer fruit and worms, so you could put out leftover crumbs of fruitcake, mince pies, or apples and pears that are beginning to go brown. However, avoid food that is mouldy, or contains salt. If you have a dog, make sure they can’t reach the bird table and eat something that is bad for them!
If you have a bird bath or pond, try and keep this unfrozen during cold snaps to allow birds to drink and bathe. You could do this by keeping a light ball to float on the surface of the water, or simply by pouring hot water onto the ice each morning. However, never use chemical anti-freezes or salt, as this could poison the birds and damage their feathers.
If you need advice about a Victorian style orangery, talk to us today!