Winter plants and flowers need to be spaced farther apart than their summer counterparts to allow for maximum circulation of water and air and to prevent problems with fungus and mildew. Cool, damp spaces are the enemy of a winter garden as they also attract slugs and snails.
When is the perfect time to plant a winter garden? Late summer to early fall is the ideal time to start planting. While others are harvesting, you’ll be sowing, but what a treat your garden will be on those cool winter days.
Be careful to plant taller flowers or shrubs on the north side of an arrangement and smaller plants on the south side where they won’t be overshadowed. Also, choose plants that are just coming into flower. For maximum impact, group flowers of similar color together or scatter different colors throughout for a cottage effect. Whatever your personal preference, don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy nature’s beauty through the winter months.
Surprisingly, while frost is an enemy of many winter plants, snow can be a wonderful insulator to protect them from the cold. Watch the weather forecasts in your area and cover plants when frost is expected. Another option to help plants drain better and warm faster in the winter is to plant them in a raised bed. Raised beds are relatively easy to construct by filling a rectangle of building material (such as pressure treated lumber) with soil and planting your flowers anywhere from six to eighteen inches above ground level.