Setting the stage for the winter garden

A well designed garden will look good in every season. In winter, the structural planting is more obvious as it exposed after all the perennials and annuals have died away. This is a time to look at the skeleton of the garden and decide how more structure can be included to enhance its winter charm.

Hedges can be planted, not only to form effective wind barriers, but to create rooms within a garden or to frame a border. Hedges also provide essential shelter and food for wildlife throughout the year.

Evergreen hedging plants such as Buxus sempervirens (Box) are hardy and easy to care for. Fagus sylvatica (Beech) trees can be grown and kept trimmed to form  barriers with year round interest, as the brown, coppery leaves will remain on the hedge throughout winter until the new fresh, bright green  growth emerges in the spring.

The deep, dark green leaves of the Taxus baccata (Yew) will not only provide you with a strong, dense hedge but can also act as a perfect backdrop to show off the colours of perennials in the spring and summer.

Ligustrum ovalifolium (Privets) are also hardy shrubs which make great evergreen hedges. They need more care as their growth is a bit more vigorous, than that of the slow growing Box shrubs.

The Cornus alba Sibirica (Dogwood) creates beautiful structure when planted in a group, as the fiery red stems are exposed and can look quite dramatic when backlit by the sun.

The yellow stems of the Cornus sericea Flaviramea can also be used in conjunction with the red stems to set a luminescent winter scene. Cornus alba Sibirica can be underplanted either with snowdrops or white winter pansies for a strong colour contrast.

Once the leaves of trees have been shed, the focus is on the interesting bark. Consider planting Betula utilis var.jacquemontii (Silver Birch) for its silvery, white bark. This can be underplanted with spring flowering, purple Muscari for a striking contrast between the white bark and purple flowers. Betula nigras pinky-brown bark exfoliates to create a papery bark effect. The star of all barks is that of the Prunus serrula Thibetica, which is smooth and glossy and looks as if it has been polished.

Finally for a bit more winter colour, consider shrubs with berries such Pyracanthus, Cotoneaster horizontalis and Skimmia japonica. The Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain Ash or Rowan) tree bears beautiful red, orange berries for most of winter. These also provide food for birds in the leaner months.

To do list for the next month:

• Consider planting trees with winter berries for colour and for the wildlife.
• Plant hedges which will attract wildlife and act as windbreaks.
• Check that the ice on the pond has been broken regularly to allow gases from the plants to escape.
• Consider consulting a garden designer to help you with plant  and hard landscape design.