Thinking ahead: what looks good in Winter in your garden?

[glacierchick]

It might seem a bit strange to be thinking about winter right now, especially as our garden is finally starting to look very nice (IMHO! ), but it is a desperate place to be during the dark months and I really want somewhere a bit more cheerful this coming winter as I will be on maternity leave for the whole period.

As a bit of background, we rent, so no major structural changes really possible. We have a sort of roof terrace which gets sun but is quite exposed, and a kind of patio/yard bit attached to it, which is partially or mainly shaded during winter, and I suspect is something of a frost pocket. There is a single long but narrow bed that is quite sheltered and the rest of the area we have filled with tubs, pots and planters and three small raised beds. I have recently constructed a cold frame but I'm not really sure what to put in it either.

I live in a mild (ish, relatively speaking) part of Scandinavia, so winter is rather cold, very grey (overcast from November to March typically) and long, but rather dry when compared to the UK, and of course we can have quite a lot of snow which lies for weeks/months. I have learnt my lesson from last winter though and will clear it off the top of vulnerable plants when it falls (my blueberry having snuffed it this winter due to the big freeze) .

I'm considering planting heathers (possibly in a variety of colours) over the winter in the raised beds, and we could have perhaps a few small evergreen shrubs in tubs (suggestions for species/varieties very welcome). I usually plant spring bulbs in the big tubs, but we tend to lose a lot to frost, so I'm reconsidering that strategy and would welcome suggestions for other things to try. I've heard ornamental grasses can work well through the winter but don't know where to start with them either.

I'd especially love something that flowers between November and March, either on bare wood or an evergreen shrub/tree type, but obviously space is a limitation. A space has recently opened up in one of our big planters on the terrace however, so we could consider at least one dwarfish shrub. It's in a semi shaded position under a lime tree, so lots of light in winter but rather dark in summer.

I'd also be interested in hearing about any winter vegetable/salad crops I could give a go in the raised beds (currently courgette, tomato, spinach, rocket, lettuce, radish) or even my new cold frame.

We're pretty much there with our spring/summer/autumn plantings, but I really want to prepare in advance for this coming winter.

Any help gratefully appreciated!

Thanks

GC

Which country do you live in and what are the average winter temperatures?
My first thought for a flowering shrub was Viburnum farreri Nanum, which flowers on bare wood from Nov-Feb/March, it's hardy and will take some shade, but am not sure how the cold would affect the flowering, frost is likely to damage the flowers.

Other options are Daphne bhloua, WInter flowering Honeysuckle, Winter flowering Jasmine, Wintersweet, Hammamelis, Sarcococca.

HAve a look here for more details
www.bluebellnursery.com/catalogue/TAGS/%22Flowering%20Period%3A%20Winter%22/trees

You could email the nursery, I have spoken to them before and they are very helpful.

Thanks Pannacotta, they sound like good places to start, we had a viburnum Bergmanensis (sp?) at our last house and it was gorgeous in Winter, but enormous, would the one you suggest be a smaller variety? We just don't have room unfortunately for anything else, or perhaps one of the others you mention would be more suitable.

I like the look of the winter flowering honeysuckle, we have a beautiful summer one and could potentially grow them through each other as a nice back drop over the fence perhaps.

Do you have any thoughts about vegetables/grasses/flowering plants? Or am I being a bit unrealistic....

The Viburnum is quite small, around 1m high x 1m spread.

Winter flowering honeysuckles look lovely trained against a wall, esp with something evergreen behind to set off the pretty (and nicely scented) flowers.

Not sure about veg for winter, still don't know where you live and how cold it gets so is hard to give suggestions...

For perennials, you could try Hellebores and Pulmonaria and plant them with early flowering bulbs such as Aconite/Snowdrops

Second the Hammamelis or Sarcococca, they both look lovely and smell wonderful.

Sorry, I forgot to put in the climate data...

Average daytime temperature range from about 4C in December, 2C in Jan and Feb to 4.5C in March, with average nighttime temperatures -0.5C in December and March and about -2 to -3C in January and February.

The extremes are probably down to about -15C or even -20C (rarely) at nights during the three coldest months, with daytime temperatures often below zero as well (-3 to -5C regularly last winter).
On warm days we might get to 5C or even 7C but that would be pretty rare.

Only about 40 to 50 mm of preciptitation per month over winter though.
So on balance it's colder and drier than most parts of the UK, about the same in terms of temperature as the far north of Scotland, but much drier.

We do have some winter aconite and snowdrops already in our bed, though this year it took until March for them to appear (our tulips are still out, it's been a cold winter and spring here too).

Some more questions, now:
Hellebores are a great idea, I hadn't thought of that. Do you have some favourite varieties as I know there are lots of different ones?

When would I plant a shrub like a sarcococca or Hamamelis? Normally I would plant trees and shrubs in the Autumn, but if I want it to flower this winter, will it need to settle in over Summer?

Thanks for your help!
GC

The ones I love in winter which survive our harsh climate are Cotoneaster and Pyracanthus both of which have jewel bright berries in scarlet, orange and bright yellows, and Dogwood, which has slender rainbow coloured branches in raspberry red, peach and yellow or apple green, that look stunning against the frost or standing out against the snow. They really lift your spirits. And the berries attract all sorts of gorgeous birds. We have blackbirds nesting in or near our pyracanthus every year and we can watch their babies grow. it's lovely.

You could grow any of these in large tubs or pots if you can't make architectural changes to the garden.

Also - hang out seedcake and put apples down on the ground. One of the best views in winter is the wildlife. Different climate but we get everything from greenfinches and woodpeckers to parakeets, robins, thrushes and blackbirds feeding daily in winter. As well as deer and foxes, and we live in the suburbs.

Thanks for the suggestions. I had thought of dogwoods, but I wasn't aware you could grow them in a tub? Pyracanthus is also a nice shrub my parents had this I think.

When would be the right time to plant them?

We do put seeds and fat balls out for the birds (and they seem to enjoy it!), though the range of species here is a bit more limited unfortunately. I will try apples, that's a good idea.

Generally speaking autumn is the best time to plant so the roots get some depth into the soil before the main growing season in spring. But I can never wait and just have to have it! So I have planted a reasonable amount in spring/early summer and not really had any disasters. You need to make sure anything planted then gets enough water throughout them settling in, so with the warmer weather that's a bit more work on your part.

Of course you'll pay a bit more to buy plants that will flower this season. If you are willing to buy smaller plants and wait for the results next year, you'll be able to save quite a bit.

HTH!