The first snow of early winter always looks fresh and pure, covering the landscape with a layer of white and turning the world into a magical wonderland, if only for a brief while. A few weeks later, many people are ready for winter to be over, even though there are still months of snow and slush left. What can you turn to in your home garden to help you get through the long Ontario winter? There are several ways to make a wonderful winter garden that’s interesting enough to carry you through to the first signs of spring.

Ornamental Bark

Winter is the best time to appreciate tree characteristics that are overlooked when there is lots of foliage. Many trees and large shrubs have bark with fantastic colors and textures. Here are five the best ornamentals with interesting bark.

Birch trees – Both white birch (Betula papyrifera) and yellow birch (Betula ltea) have unique and instantly identifiable bark. White birch bark is whitish and papery in appearance while yellow birch bark is a darker and curled.

Beech trees – The American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a slow growing, but majestic tree with smooth, gray bark. If you see a tree with initials carved in the bark, it is probably a beech.

Red osier dogwood –Cornus sericea, is one of the delights of the winter landscape. This large shrub has red branches and twigs that make a dramatic contrast with the snow and gray of winter.

Ninebark – The name of this large shrub gives you a clue to its appeal. Layers of peeling bark on the Physocarpus keep it interesting all winter long. There are several different cultivars of this species, all with somewhat varying characteristics.

Musclewood – Ask for Carpinus caroliniana by its latin name; there are several trees with similar common names. This one has smooth bark like a beech tree, but the form of the trunk and branches is somewhat rolling, giving it a muscular appearance. Musclewood is a medium size tree.

Ornamental Grasses

Savvy gardeners have long been aware of the appeal of ornamental grasses in the landscape. They are perennial, returning year after year, usually sending up tall shoots of new growth with feathery seedheads in late summer and early fall. Clusters of foliage remain the through the winter, a dramatic contrast against a thick blanket of snow. Non-invasive native species such as switchgrass, little bluestem and big bluestem are usually the smart choice. Depending on the species, they will grow anywhere from three to six feet tall.

For all ornamental plants, be sure to add good quality soil mix or compost to the existing soil. A thick layer of mulch will help the new plants through their first winter in your yard.

Art in the Landscape

Along with unique plants, art and sculpture can make valuable contributions to the winter landscape. Sculptures serve as dramatic focal points, and the options are as varied as the creativity of the artist. Art pieces can be freestanding or attach to a wall, stand alone in the yard or emerge from planting beds. Almost all garden art can help to lift your spirits on a dreary winter day.

Spending time planning the elements of your winter garden helps you tune in to subtle, but fascinating features in the landscape. Observing the many shades of brown and gray and how they change colour through the day depending on weather and sunlight is an ongoing, slow moving drama in your garden. Contrasting textures, forms and colours, even if they are not green, are some of the most exciting parts of the landscape, especially during winter.

Find the supplies you need to create your winter garden at either of our two locations.

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