Winter Gardening – What To Plant And When

Come the spring, we’re all eager to get out into the garden and plant those first few shrubs and flowers that will come to fruition during the summer.

But what do we do during the winter months?  Do we ignore the garden altogether and wait for next spring to get underway again?

Not a bit of it.  There is a lot you can do at this time of year, and if you have a self-build conservatory you are in an even better position.  Those windowsills are ideal for encouraging young plants to make it through the winter, and it will enable you to have plenty of plants ready for when spring arrives too.

The best plants to look for are annuals.  Winter pansies are a good option to try, and they can fill winter hanging baskets outside your conservatory, providing you with a lovely view out onto your garden.

The one thing you need to be aware of is whether you can plant certain things at the beginning of the winter season or the end.  For example calendula can liven up a winter garden, but only towards the end of the season.  Plant it too early and you could lose it.

As such you should always ask for advice from your local garden centre when you buy things for your garden.  The same applies for any plants you want to add to your self-build conservatory.  The conditions during winter won’t be as warm or as sunny as they would be during the summer, so think carefully before you choose the plant for your needs.

A lot depends on where you place a plant too.  What will thrive in one garden (or even in one position) will die off in another, so take time to choose carefully.  For example the Christmas rose doesn’t like full sun and it won’t do well in an exposed position either.  Keep it close to your self-build conservatory so you can admire the amazing flowers that bloom around Christmas time itself, and shelter it as best you can.

The nandina domestica will also give a good display during the winter months as its leaves will flush red.  This is available all year so provided you don’t plant it on the coldest day of the year it should be fine.  It is very hardy and can withstand quite a lot too.

But of course these examples only just touch the surface of what you can do during the winter months.  The more you find out about winter planting and whether to do it inside your DIY conservatory or out in the garden, the more you will realise that gardening is for the whole year – not just for summer.