Winter is when bright bark and branches really shine. Chris chooses his favourite winter stars
The sleepy winter season offers up some of the best plant party pieces. A silhouetted tree in low sun is a sight to behold – and even a small space can be breathtaking with the right plant choices. Think bark, catkins, structure, and don’t disregard spent foliage and flower heads.
All plants will grow and provide beauty in a small space with the right husbandry. A decent peat-free compost, good organic fertiliser given throughout the growing season and decent drainage are all key factors that will help plants through their winter rest.
Then it’s just a case of choosing your stars of the show. The multi-stemmed snake bark maple (Acer capillipes) is a showstopper with its stunning green bark and creamy venation (stripes). For catkins, I love the silk tassel bush (Garrya elliptica), which retains its long silver catkins through the winter. Its dense evergreen leaves also provide cover for small birds.
Dogwoods and shrub willow are both tough, year-round plants, but particularly noted for their brightly coloured winter stems. Just remember to cut them back hard in early spring so you can make the most of these highlights.
And don’t forget the charm of the dried mopheads of the common hydrangea. These not only look superb in the winter sunshine, and provide protection for a myriad of insects, but they rattle in the winds, adding some soothing sound to the garden.
When choosing winter plants it always pays to do a little bit of homework. A north-facing garden will need to accommodate more hardy, cold-tolerant plants. Take a trip to your local botanic or historic garden to see what the experts have done and get inspiration and ideas.
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Q. Can you recommend an evergreen shrub for a small garden?
A. For a superb evergreen shrub, which flowers and fruits throughout the winter, the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is a must, or highly scented sweet box (Sarcococca confusa). Both will entertain you right through the dark months.
Q. How do I protect the roots of my container shrubs in winter?
A. During frosty nights, a layer of compost applied as a mulch to the pot surface will insulate surface roots, or you could also underplant your container plants with ground cover plants. Alternatively, stand the pots up on bricks to prevent them becoming waterlogged.
Q. What plants could give winter interest on a wall or fence?
A. For a striking herringbone frame of branches, look no further than Cotoneaster horizontalis, which is at its best when grown against a wall, or Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica or C. speciosa), with its spiny branches, glossy leaves and showy blooms.
For more organic gardening advice – for gardens big and small – head to www.gardenorganic.org.uk, where you can also find out how to support the charity by becoming a member.
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