Winter Ideas, Tips & Guides

Usually,plants wither after the first touch of chilling winter winds, but there are some plants that don’t mind the harsh cold weather. These are Plants that Stay Green in Winters, and you must plant some of them to keep your garden attractive during winter and early spring.

The first summer I lived in Alaska, my neighbors brought over a bouquet of enormous, lush pink flowers that I had never seen before. Set in vases against the green walls in my home, I could’ve stared at them for hours.I soon learned that peonies (Paeonia

Cold weather cover crops, or green manure crops, are planted from the end of summer to early fall for the purpose of enriching and protecting the soil.Often overlooked in the home garden, they of

Does the threat of cold weather and the changing of the seasons bring a tear to your eye? Pre-winter blues got you down?Just because it’s turned crisp and co

Unlike tender annuals, cold-hardy herbs live beyond the growing season, going dormant in the winter and returning again in spring.We link to vendors to help you find r

Calendula is one of my very favorite herbs to grow in the garden. The bright, cheerful flowers provide a splash of color in the autumn months and bring light to even the dreariest of chilly days.On crisp fall mornings, I like to stroll through

If you want to pull fresh vegetables from your winter garden, consider planting late-season cabbage. Most varieties of this Brassica can survive a light frost, but some cultivars tolerate temperatures as low as 20ºF.Some varieties of green and red types are particul

Most gardeners know that brussels sprouts prefer cool temperatures, but these tiny wannabe cabbages take the concept of cold-weather gardening to the next level.With the right care, you can grow a fresh

Winter is a time to chill – both literally and figuratively.Besides the decreasing temperatures, wintertim

Spiraea is a large genus of showy, flowering shrubs in the Rosaceae (rose) family, and cold-hardy garden varieties typically handle most cold or wet weather conditions with ease – but there are a few exceptions.We link to vendors to help you find r

It might be small and demure, tucked away by the back door or under the eaves alongside a garden path, but you’ll never overlook winter daphne (Daphne odora) when it’s in full bloom.The sweet, spreading scent of its delicate flowe

Need a pick-me-up homegrown flower? Sunflowers, daisies, or dahlias might immediately come to mind. But I prefer pansies!I think of this day-brightener

Like humans, there are some plants that come alive in the dead of winter and then there are some that need a little something extra to get through the cold months.Rhododendrons, like yours truly, nee

For fern fans, the Boston fern is probably the pteridophyte that got you hooked. It’s gorgeous, versatile, and fairly easy to care for. Plus, you’d have a hard time finding a plant shop or garden center that doesn’t have N. exaltata in stock.But every Boston fern owner – or pla

Clematis is rightly known as the queen of the vines for its regal performance in the garden.It happily scrambles up and over arbors, pergolas, and trellises, as we

Wouldn’t you love to add the flavor of garden-fresh herbs to your hearty cold-weather dishes?Well, there’s no need to rue(!) the arrival of

Winter is a time when most crops go dormant or have died off for the season in many areas, leaving a brown, slumbering landscape in the garden. But there are a number of vegetables that can be grown in the winter.Onions can be planted in the fall to begin

I know what you’re thinking: yet another thing you have to do to take care of your roses?! Isn’t all the pruning, deadheading, pest control, and disease prevention enough?!Don’t worry, this task is easy and not everyone

Are you looking for a plant that comes to life when others are withered and dormant, one that offers seasonal color like a camellia, but with less upkeep? Jasminum nudiflorum may be the one for you!Plants that brighten the sometimes dismal winter months

You’ve harvested the last of your squash, beans, and tomatoes. And now you are thinking about your more cold hardy crops. You may have heard that you can store carrots in the ground over winter – and perhaps you could use some pointers on how best to do this.While keeping them in the garden

Those of us in cold USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 5 seem to have the gardening odds stacked against us.We must meticulously plan our gardens because ou

Boysenberries, Rubus ursinus x R. idaeus, are tasty hybrid berries that typically grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.I’m in Zone 4, and it is admittedly audaci

Winter comes before spring, and this coldest season can be quite dull too. With shorter days and longer nights, the plants that flower is also fewer in comparison. So, to decorate your homes this festive time, you can put up beautiful planters on your front porch, patio, or outdoor bar and such. Here are a few of the Best Winter Planters for the Front Porch. 

Uh-oh. Does your outdoor gardenia have brittle branches and brown leaves following a bout of freezing temperatures?If you’re left wondering whether the or

One of my favorite things to do during the winter is to put food out for the birds.Not only does this activity nourish the birds

It’s no secret to the regular reader that my favorite perennial is a heuchera. Disregard the fact that I have many favorite plants, and remember that heuchera (aka alumroot) is my Favorite. That’s right – with a capital “F.“A major reason they’re my Favorite i

Caladiums are colorful, tropical foliage plants that grow as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.In colder areas, where the ground free

One of the greatest threats to an evergreen’s ever-greenness is winter, and all the harsh, damaging conditions that come with it.An evergreen shrub that doesn’t keep its verd

I don’t know why parsnips aren’t more popular. Their cousin, the colorful carrot, is a kitchen garden must-have. But when you mention parsnips, it tends to elicit looks of confusion (if not disgust).I don’t get it. It can’t be the taste. They

As the growing season winds down, it’s time to start planning your care and maintenance routine for fall, including how to prepare bulbs for winter.Flowering bulbs add gorgeous blooms and

Bright and dainty yet boldly toothed, coreopsis flowers aka tickseed, are a lot prettier than their name suggests.The blooms are so cheerful that t

Even though I’m devoted to late-summer bloomers, nothing perks me up quite as much as early-spring flowers.It’s the unexpected surprise and joy upon s

The lawn may be the largest part of your garden landscape. From seeding and mowing to weeding and raking autumn leaves, you do your best to keep it looking lush and lovely, and take pride in the accomplishment.And once those leaves are cl

Winter can be hard on all of us.Sure, the snow can be beautiful and there’s

Astilbe is an herbaceous perennial for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 that grows from thick, tuberous roots called rhizomes.It thrives in shady areas of the garden whe

Spotting a splash of color in a winter landscape can immediately brighten and add beauty to the dreary, gray days.Camellia is a good choice for adding color, an