Garden Design Tips for Winter Interest
Designing for Winter Interest
By Holly Park, Scout Hill Farm
When the leaves fall from the trees and the last of the flowers have dried, most people turn away from the garden and forget its wonders.
But if you continue to gaze, winter reveals its true bones; graceful structure, delightful texture, and stark contrast. With a little planning, your landscape can stay beautiful all year long.
Start with structure.
Dedicate about 30% of your garden to plants chosen purely for winter interest. Look for bark with color and texture - red or yellow twig dogwoods, paperbark maple, birch - and less commons evergreens like boxwood, juniper, japanese holly, and pieris. These give shape and depth when everything else fades.
Add texture and movement.
Next, include around 20% of plants that keep their seedheads: echinacea, penstemon, sea holly, black-eyed Susan, dill, fennel, and panicle hydrangea. They feed birds, catch snow, and add a sculptural look. Leave them standing until early spring before pruning back.
Layer in early bloomers.
Reserve about 10% for plants that shine in late winter and early spring - hellebores, witch hazel, azalea, heather, crocus, and snowdrops - to dazzle you well before spring truly returns.
Don’t forget the groundcover.
Lamb’s ear, hardy geranium, sweet william, heuchera, and liriope keep a soft, colorful base all year long.
Follow this mix and less than half your plants will disappear in winter!
If this inspires you to start fresh, join me this winter at Scout Hill Farm:
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Holiday Flower Arranging – December 21
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Designing Your Garden Beds (Hands-On Workshop) – February 7
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Seed Starting for Spring – March 8
Follow along on Facebook or Instagram for details and registration. Let’s make this winter something beautiful to look forward to.