7 Tips for a Beautiful Winter Garden: Expert Advice for Four-Season Interest

Summer gardens burst with color, but winter landscapes often lack interest. Horticulturist Vincent Simeone shares how to change that: "Winter is my most favorite garden season. There are wonders of winter landscape, but we sort of forget that winter is gardening season."

1. Evaluate your landscape. Photograph your winter garden to identify gaps and strengths. "You really just have to look at the winter garden differently, and realize you have lots of opportunity."
2. Break winter into mini-seasons. Early, mid, and late winter each support different plants with varying interest levels. Research performance across all three phases.
3. Focus on views. Evergreens anchor winter landscapes, but viburnum, pussy willow, redtwig dogwood, and hardy camellias add stunning beauty. Uncut trees and large perennials offer bark texture and seed heads (ornamental grasses excel here).
4. Seek season-extending plants. Witch hazel is Simeone's #1 winter plant. Winter jasmine blooms where hardy.
5. Strategic placement. Transplant existing winter-beautiful plants to better spots. Use evergreens to screen eyesores (stark fences) more visible in winter.
6. Add wildlife plants. Bird activity transforms winter gardens. Deciduous holly and other berry/seed producers feed birds and enrich your experience.
7. Do your research. List plants you like that perform well in winter. "Winter is an underutilized, underappreciated garden season that people should take advantage of more."