Winter plants?

[sahs1969]

Hi,
I am a real gardening novice-have really enjoyed my garden this summer for the 1st time and am now wondering what to do for the winter-my hanging baskets have all just about had it-what do people plant for the winter or don't you bother?
Thanks

I've got two pots that go by the front door in about November. They each have a dwarf box in to give a bit of green and then in the compost underneath, there are layers of pink tulips, those tiny narcissus (sp?) and snowdrops and chinoxida.

That way, I have Box with red ribbons tied round for Xmas, with chinoxida & snowdrops in January, the narcissus take over from the snowdrops in march and the tulips take over after that.

Then the pots get a layer of bonemeal in May and are left in the back garden until next year. There's not much work to do with them.

I think winter is tricky! I've somtimes planted those pretty pink and white cabbages in containers for th winter as they seem pretty hardy. No use for hanging baskets though.

Have you got snowdrops and bulbs organised?

Shrubs with bright stems such as dogwoods can provide winter colour.

I also found some plants in the garden centre which were Ok tll the heavy snow and really cold temperatures finally got to them in January - sorry I can';t recall the name at the mo. But ask in your garden centre what they suggest.

I have a Lonicera x purpusii Winter Beauty in my (south-facing) front garden. It flowers from the end of November to late March. The flowers aren't really pretty but the scent is lovely, particularly at such a florally-drab time of year.

There are a few winter-flowering shrubs which are good for colour and scent, plus you can always underplant them with early bulbs. Winter pansies are also good for colour if you have containers which need pepping up. I would happily plant narcissus bulbs with winter pansies over the top - the bulbs grow through the plants quite easily.

I like the sound of Kathyjelly's pots (but not the Box, that smells like wee imo), they are the work of genius

I've got a winter basket with a very small evergreen shrub (can't remember what, DH bought it), some heathers, crocus bulbs and space for winter pansies.

Pansies and polyanthus are good bets, I usually can't bear to tear out my summer bedding when I should to get these in while theres still some warmth in the soil to get them off to a good start.

Small cyclamen can be good too in pots, esp if in a sheltered position can last for a suprisingly long time. (the big ones aren't hardy enough)

In the back garden we've got some dogwoods and a winter flowering mahonia

Do plant bulbs now ready for spring - daffs in sept, tulips can wait till october. And (what I always forget) wallflowers for wonderful scent

the winter basket has ivy too, baskets need something trailing.

Skimmia is an attractive evergreen with berries.

Oh yes, I think that's my mystery shrub. I find it has a nice delicate scent, DH can't smell it at all, oddly.