Woodie’s Picks: Late-Season Bloomers To Brighten Up Your Winter Space
With fewer hours of sunlight, colder weather, and the majority of blooming plants in a state of dormancy, it’s easy to fall into a winter garden slump. But it does not have to be this way! There are a number of vibrant plants you can grow that bloom in winter and can easily liven up your landscape in the chilly seasons!
In this week’s installment of Woodie’s Picks, we are going to highlight four of our favorite late-season bloomers to brighten up your winter space. But before we dive into those winter-flowering favorites, we want to share with you the main things to consider when gardening in the dead of winter!
The Dos and Don’ts of Gardening In The Winter
For many, you might be swayed to believe that it is impossible to garden in the winter…and depending on how far north you live, you may actually be right. However, if you live in a more moderate climate, the chance to get your hands in the dirt this winter could very well be a possibility! This is where our first tip for winter gardening comes into play:
Don’t Plant in Frozen Ground
This tip probably goes without saying…but we’re going to say it anyway! Generally, you should not plant seeds or young plants when temperatures are below freezing (around 32°F). Once established, different plants have varying thresholds for temperature, but as a safe bet, if the ground is frosted or a frost is expected in the coming weeks, you should wait to plant.
Do Add Mulch
Mulch is a powerful gardening tool that should be used year-round, but it is especially beneficial for your garden in the winter months. Mulch not only protects plants from the harsh winter winds, but it also retains moisture, stabilizes soil temperatures, and suppresses weeds!
Don’t Fertilize
While getting essential nutrients is just as important for plants as it is for us humans, winter is a period of rest for most plants, and fertilizing too early can actually stimulate premature growth. Instead we recommend stocking up on fertilizer to apply in the growing seasons of spring and summer for best results.
Do Water Wisely
Your landscape plants won’t need as much water during dormancy as they would in the spring and summer, but a deep watering a few times throughout the cold season will do them good! As a rule of thumb, Woodie recommends watering when the soil is dry to the touch, and the temperature is not below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Four Winter-Blooming Favorites For The Cold-Season Landscape
Soft Caress Mahonia
When the sunshine in the sky feels lacking, you can supplement your daily dose of golden yellow hues with the winter blooms on the Soft Caress Mahonia. The shrub’s feathery, bamboo-like foliage adds a unique texture to the garden as well.
Native to Asia, the mahonia is ideal for shade gardens, winter interest gardens, or planted on its own as a focal point! In addition to its beauty, people praise the Mahonia for its tolerance to colder temperatures. The shrub is said to handle temperatures as low as -5°F.
Helleborus Pink Frost
If you want your garden to feel like a fairytale of whimsical elegance and grace, look no further than the Pink Frost Helleborus. Nicknamed the ‘Lenten Rose,’ these low-maintenance perennials sport delicately rounded pink leaves with warm yellow centers.
The Pink Frost Helleborus’ intricately veined green foliage is also well-loved as it remains green year-round and is deer and rabbit-resistant! This gorgeous winter bloomer is hardy to zones 4 through 9 and is a must-have in any winter garden!
Kanjiro Camellia
The above options are smaller plants that make a big impact in the winter garden. If you are on the hunt for a larger statement to make your winter garden glow, the Kanjiro Camellia may just be the shrub for you! Reaching a mature height and width nearing ten feet, this breathtaking shrub is sure to make a splash in the landscape.
Sporting lustrous evergreen foliage year-round and large rose-like blooms in the late fall through to late winter, the Kanjiro Camellia brings unmatched beauty and color to a home’s exterior. These shrubs are extremely attractive when used as focal points, in mixed borders, and as informal hedges.
Mediterranean White Heather
Another winter-blooming perennial favorite is Mediterranean White Heather. This low-growing, mound-forming perennial produces a carpet of tiny white bell-shaped flowers. These plants require little maintenance, are drought-tolerant, and work in a range of different garden styles! For the biggest impact, we recommend planting your Mediterranean Heather in mass.
Shop Winter Bloomers Online Today
Here at our garden center, we pride ourselves in carrying a variety of plants to keep your landscape thriving and beautiful all year round! Shop our wide collection of winter blooming plants online today and enjoy convenient delivery directly to your doorstep.