The Best Winter Plants For Planters:
Most gardeners understand that spring and summer are the best times for planting and gardening. The warmer months are ideal for most plants, in particular the more delicate flowers and their delightful blooms which need to be properly watered and placed in just the right amount of sunshine. While spring and summer are often gentle on your garden, the other two seasons can be tough sledding for sun lovers who need the warmer weather to beautify your home and garden.
Year Round Gardening
Colder weather calls for hardier plants that can survive the colder darker months, and while it might seem improbable to be gardening in the middle of December, with the right plants, you can garden year round! Let’s explore some of the different plants you can put in your planters this summer or fall that will stay throughout the winter.
Evergreens
Perhaps the most obvious plants to have in the garden during the winter is an evergreen shrub or small decorative tree. These plants will maintain their leaves or needles throughout the winter, thus getting the name of evergreen. Some evergreen options to add to a planter or simply to an area that you would like to have some greenery throughout the year, include boxwood, holly, blue spruce, junipers, and others.
Boxwood Shrubs:
One of the more popular decorative winter plants, the boxwood is hardy enough to survive the winter months while also providing a touch of color to your outdoors during the winter. While these plants can survive under some snow cover, make sure they are in an area which receives sunlight during the day.
Dwarf Blue Spruce:
Another classic evergreen that is notable for its blue hued evergreen foliage. These small trees are great for the winter, as their characteristic blue creates a beautiful contrast when wrapped in a white snowy mantle. Like the boxwood, make sure this evergreen receives plenty of sunlight during the day for the healthiest plant during the winter months.
their characteristic blue creates a beautiful contrast
Holly:
This plant is associated with the Christmas season for a reason, being a strong performer during the winter. The bush will often produce red ‘fruits’ that fully mature during the winter months to create a contrast with the smooth green boughs and leaves on the holly. With hundreds of different types of holly, find the type that fits your outdoor space and adds some easy color to the winter garden.
Juniper:
The Juniper bush is a popular option for the home and garden. Coming in a variety of different sizes and heights the juniper is a great selection for the garden due to its tough and durable growth that is complemented by the growth of juniper berries that add the slightest touch of color to the plant. A simple plant that requires little supervision, the juniper is perfect for low traffic areas that could use a little greenery.
Camellia:
One of the few plants that flowers even during the winter, Camellia plants are the perfect shade lover for the winter months. Placed in the shade and taken care of during the fall, these plants provide a variety of colors with a reddish or white hue making them a fun addition to the garden during the often colorless months.
These plants provide a variety of different colors
Red Twig Dogwood:
Red twig dogwood might be the most versatile of the plants on this list, as it provides two different decorative shades during the year. Summer months see this variety of dogwood with fantastic white flowers and berries, while the winter months see the loss of the flowers but the emergence of the red boughs of the dogwood that are wonderfully contrasted with snowy conditions. Look to add this staple of both summer and winter months to your year round garden. Starting In The Summer:
Helpful Reminders
Remember that when planting for the winter months that preparation and maintenance is year round. For the best results don’t plant your winter foliage right before winter begins, but instead plant during the spring or summer months to allow the plant to fully establish its roots and have a little extra growth before the tough winter months. Removing dead growth during the spring is crucial to the functionality of your winter garden, so make sure to spend a little time in the spring and fall to clean up these hardy plants and make room for new growth. Happy Gardening!