In all our gardens we start small and add plants as we go. If you look back the the birdbath garden you can see what I mean. What started with a birdbath and five small plants has slowly turned into a medium size garden area with about 15 different plants. The winter garden will be no different! With economics being what it is no to low cost gardening is a must, but money cannot stand in the way of a great garden! All the plant selections that will form the founding plants in the winter garden are either discount plants or came from propagation (cuttings or divisions).
The first plant to tell you about is the foundation, the Yoshino cherry tree. I know what you’re thinking, “cherry trees are great in spring, summer, and fall but in winter?” My goal is to make the winter garden a garden with year round interest which validates the cherry tree, but have you ever looked at the bark of a mature cherry? It’s a nice shiny glistening reddish brown that I think is very attractive. At least that’s my excuse! It’s also in the front yard where we will see the garden year round and growing season interest is important.
The second plant that I will install (sounds like an appliance) will be the red twig dogwood. You’re probably tired of hearing me talk about the red twig dogwoods, but really, they are great plants! I have several that I can move from other locations to add to the winter garden that I’ve gotten from cuttings and in one case a division. I’ll start with two and grow from there.
The third subject to join the garden will be a pair of Bird’s Nest Spruces. Like other spruces they are evergreen and will add a bit of color to the garden. I learned an interesting fact recently about the origin of one variety in the most recent edition of the American Gardener from the American Horticultural Society. The Bird’s Nest Spruce ‘Little Gem’ was developed from the Witch’s Brooms that appear as a mutation on another Bird’s Nest Spruce tree (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’). I won’t be planting ‘Little Gem’ but I thought that was a pretty cool to have a dwarf plant come from another dwarf plant!
Two Cranberry Cotoneasters (Cotoneaster apiculata) will also join the garden as berry producing plants for the birds. They produce red berries in the fall along with burgundy red foliage. It will lose its leaves but should retain its fruit until the birds eat their fill. It’s not a native plant but isn’t listed on the Tennessee invasive plants lists. It’s a low growing shrub with a height of 3 feet as its maximum but spreads out to five feet. It’s also capable of rooting where it touches the ground much like forsythias so caution should be taken to prevent it spreading where it’s not wanted.
The last plant to go in will be another one I have around the yard, Rosemary! It’s purpose will be to add a scent to the garden to hopefully repel any marauding deer and it looks great in the garden. In our area it does very well as an ornamental edible and serves as a great evergreen planting.
There you can see a few of the choices that will go into the garden. Initially there are only a few but I’ll add to them over time. I’m a little apprehensive with the cotoneaster but as its not listed on any of the invasive lists here in Tennessee it should be OK. Tomorrow I’ll show you one of two sketches I made of the winter garden area to see which arrangement you like best.
Previous Posts on Winter Gardening
Designing the Winter Garden: Aspectual Musings
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Hi Dave, sounds like you have a well thought out plan for your winter garden. I like the choices you’ve made so far. Part of the joy of gardening is starting small and then growing what you have.
Meems
Hi Dave, good planning. The bark and just the whole form of the yoshino adds plenty of winter interest, but some evergreens and the red twigs are great additions. I am not a fan of the cotoneasters though, but a huge fan of the rosemary. You could try just sticking some pieces of it in the ground where you want them, leave plenty of spacing, for my experience has been that they don’t appreciate being moved once they have rooted. May your beds grow to large ones! 🙂
Frances
What a great idea Dave. I like the idea of a winter garden. Can’t wait to see the plans you draw up!
I am almost visualise it – I think it will look lovely in the winter but as you say each of the plants will have another period of interest to. Feeling more inspired now to address my own garden
That is a well thought out plan. I tend to plant and then move them. I learning a lot from my gardening bloggers. Can hardly wait to see your garden.
Dave,
With this post and the last one on winter interest…I am finally getting the motivation to add a wintery mix to the garden! You’ve chosen some lovely plants…I love the cherry and I have added rosemary to several beds. it is so inexpensive at garden centers in the spring! Gail
They all look cool. I tell you I just love the cotoneaster for its drought tolerant attributes and it just goes and goes and goes. Never seen it self seed so don’t worry.
Everyone,
Thanks for your comments!
Meems,
Starting small does give you a deeper sense of satisfaction as it grows. It’s like a long road trip where you stop often along the way to see what there is to see!
Frances,
I’ll definitely be doing the rosemary sticking method. It’s quick and easy!
Racquel,
I hope I don’t disappoint!
Patientgardener,
It’s fun just to plan it I think. Even if you don’t do anything with it. Of course once you have a plan you can work on it in any planting season.
Darla,
I’ve done a lot of that too! I’m not sure you can be a gardener without changing your mind occasionally.
Gail,
I was at one of the box stores yesterday and they had rosemary for $.50 each. They looked dead and the store clerk tried to tell me they would bounce right back with a little watering. Evergreens that are brown stay brown and have to regrow branches!
Tina,
Thanks! That makes me feel a little better about the cotoneaster. One goal I have tried to stick to is not to add any invasives to the garden. I think that’s important!