by Carolyn Brown
The magic of holiday poinsettias and amaryllis has faded. What’s a homeowner to do in the heart of winter? Dream! February is a very important month where plans for your summer sanctuary should begin.
Your yard is likely covered with snow, creating a blank slate for assessment. Are there areas that are bare and boring? An often overlooked aspect of gardening is winter interest. Let’s face it, in a place where six months of the year are winter, it’s something we should consider. If an unattractive view is being hidden by a tall perennial, in winter that perennial will often be cut down, or crushed by the snow. Perhaps plan on putting an evergreen shrub, such as a mugo pine, so that the view is blocked year-round by green foliage. Also consider features of shrubs for winter when choosing them in summer. The red sticks of a dogwood, or the orange berries on a sea buckthorn add some colour to a dull winter landscape.
Now is also an excellent time to see the “bones” of your garden, pruning can be done to enhance the visual structure of your space, and it is also important to maintain the health of your trees and shrubs. Contact a certified arborist for any large jobs, as they work year-round and will prune for the health and appearance of your shrubs and trees.
Winter is also a great time to reflect on how you used your outdoor space last summer, and what changes would improve it for the next. Getting a design drawn up by a landscape/garden designer at this time of year is a great way to avoid the summer rush. Some design companies even offer discounted rates on designs and consults done before March 1. Then when Spring comes, the work can begin right away. Or drawing your own sketch of your garden to get a feel of how you’d like to make changes come spring (no need for fancy supplies or computer programs, this can be scribbled on a notepad).
Lastly, enjoy the stillness. It will all begin and there will be a thousand garden chores to get to before you know it and we will once again be dreaming of cozy long nights.
