Finding Beauty in the Quiet Season: Why Every Garden Needs to be interesting in the Winter
- vikslincoln
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
When we think of gardens, winter isn’t usually the season that comes to mind. The leaves have fallen, flowers are gone, and much of the garden feels still. But with a little thought, winter can be one of the most striking and rewarding times in your outdoor space.
A well-planned winter border will not only keep your garden attractive year-round, but also bring daily moments of delight when you need them most, pushing away those winter blues.
Why Add Winter Interest to your garden?
Winter is the season when we often see our gardens most – from the kitchen window, a living room seat, or as we pass through the front path each day. Instead of staring at bare soil or empty branches, a winter border can lift your mood with colour, structure, and scent. It’s about turning those grey days into something beautiful and restorative.
Where to Position a Winter Border
If you’re creating just one border, or updating an existing border, pick an area that is visible from the room(s) you use most indoors, or in the front garden where you’ll pass by daily. This ensures you get maximum enjoyment from the design during the months when you’re outside less.
Key ingredients to add Winter Interest to your garden border:
Structure – a few evergreens and stems of taller plants, or even a simple sculpture, will provide the backbone of your garden, holding shape when other plants have died back.
Stems & bark – colourful stems such as Dogwood (Cornus ‘midwinter fire’ is a great option), and striking bark (think silver Birch, Tibetan cherry) catch the low winter light – creating a glow.
Shadows, veils & silhouettes – winter sun is low, creating long, dramatic shapes that add atmosphere. As well as the shapes from trees and shrubs, leaving ornamental grasses (such as Miscanthus and Deschampsia) and perennial flowers with stronger stems standing through the winter, creates beautiful shimmering and hazy views, punctuated with darker stems and former flower heads. (Save your ‘cutting back’ task for early spring).
Flowers – There are lots of winter flowering plants to bring brightness and charm to your border – including Hellebores (Christmas roses), Witch Hazel, Heathers, Snowdrops and Winter Aconites, and winter-flowering Jasmine, to name a few.
Scent – fragrant shrubs such as Daphne odora, Sarcococca confusa and Viburnum x bodnantense release unexpected perfume on crisp sunny days. Planting these near a window or door, can give you a real lift from the winter blues.
Tip: Add mulch to your borders after planting, and top up every winter, to protect plant roots and retain soil moisture - and - don't forget to water new plants a little during dry spells, even in winter.
Now is a great time to add winter interest to your garden:
The best time to plant or refresh a winter border is late summer to autumn, when the soil is still warm and roots can establish before the colder weather. This gives your plants the best start and ensures they’re ready to perform beautifully once winter arrives.
With thoughtful planting, a winter interest border transforms your garden into a place of quiet beauty and daily inspiration – proving that even in the coldest season, there’s life, colour, and joy to be found.
If you're still not sure where to start with making your garden your favourite place in every season, why not get in touch: info@vickylincolngardendesign.com
I hope you have found this useful.
Check out my other articles, including How do I know if I need a landscaper or garden designer? and The journey to your perfect garden – 5 essential tips, relevant whether you're creating your own garden or thinking about asking others to help you.
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