Add Style to Your Otherwise Dreary Outdoors This Winter

Cold Weather can cause us to overlook our outdoor space. Yet winter is an awesome time for your deck, patio or front entranceway to take on a different and appealing look. You probably already have decorative birdhouses, wooden outdoor furniture, garden fountain and birdfeeders that you enjoy year round. These following ideas will enhance what you have already and make your outdoors less dreary this winter.

Plant Containers

• Fill your outdoor planters with perennials that will last all winter long.
  
  • Ornamental grasses such as dwarf forms of Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis), like 'Little Kitten' and 'Yaku Jima'.
  • Dwarf fountain grasses (Pennisetum alopecuroides), like 'Hameln' or 'Little Bunny'
• Lavender (Lavandula officinalis), variegated yucca (Yucca filamentosa) such as 'Bright Edge' or 'Golden Sword' or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’.

• For those planters that have a catching design or color of their own, plant them with a single
  perennial or ground cover. The pot becomes the vocal point instead of the plant.
  
• European ginger (Asarum europaeum), variegated pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis 'Variegata')
• Variegated lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) such as 'Alba Variegata'
• Evergreen barrenworts, such as Epimedium x perralchicum, E. pubigerum or E. x versicolor, sedums (Sedum spp.) or hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum spp).
  
  
• Cool-weather vegetables also make great pot-fillers. It is best to plant several together in one pot for the best effect
  
• Purple-leaved beets,
• Chinese cabbage, kale, spinach and leaf lettuce
• Mustard, snap peas
• Swiss chard ( 'Rhubarb' or 'Bright Lights.' )
  
  
• Hardy herbs are another great idea for containers Thyme, parsley, oregano and sage look great while being tolerant of winter temperatures. Remember to use them in some of your recipes.
  
  
• Conifers are another great addition to your outdoors. Take the conifer- pot and all- and put into the soil of your container.
  
  
• Weeping or upright junipers (Juniperus spp.)
• Dwarf Norway spruce (Picea abies) such as 'Little Gem,' 'Nidiformis' or 'Pygmaea'
• Dwarf white spruce (Picea glauca) including 'Conica,' 'Hobbit,' 'Humpty Dumpty' or 'Jean's Dilly.
• Dwarf cultivars of mugo pine (Pinus mugo) such as 'Mops' or 'Gnom'
• Copressus arizonica, with a symmetrical pyramidal form of blue-gray foliage on compact branches
• New Blue Tamarix Juniper, or Juniperus Sabina, which has blue foliage
  
  
• Topiaries also are great for decorating any garden space. Look for ones created with English ivy (Hedera helix), a hardy herb or a clipped evergreen such as Juniperus chinensis.

Some Other Planting Notes:

• Keep in mind that terra- cotta containers should not be used over the winter. They are susceptible to cracking. Thick, lightweight polyurethane foam containers, which resemble terra cotta or stone can withstand the winter temperatures.
• Make sure the plants you choose are hardy in your particular climate zone.
• By the time your plants start to out grow your pots you will be able to plant them right in your garden in the spring.

Group Your Planters

• Your front entranceway and your deck or patio are the best areas to show off these winter plants.
• Group your containers to in a way to create an interesting symmetrical layout of shape and size while having a
  variety of color, shape, height and texture.
• Add to your plant groupings a small sculpture, old watering can, or other objects like driftwood, rocks, or old garden tools which reflect your interests and personality. This will add style to your plant groupings.
• Try to set up your groupings in a location that you are able to see from indoors.

Garden Fountains and outdoor wooden furniture need to be put away for the season but many other things can remain outdoors. Birds will be attracted to your backyard if you have a heated bird bath and decorative bird feeders. In addition these add much needed character to an otherwise barren backyard

Tuned Wind Chimes and Tressels can also remain outdoors for the winter.

Your deck or patio can feel more like home this winter with the addition of a Jaquizzi, or a chiminea which you can use to cook over or sit around for a cozy winter fire

Add color to your deck or patio by painting an outdoor piece of furniture such as a table or chair a vibrant color. Or paint several rocks and add them to your plant containers.

This is also a good time to look at your garden landscape and identify what you may want to improve for next year. When everything is barren it is easier to see what improvements you could make.

Take a look at my website to get some ideas for your backyard such as decorative birdhouses, tuned wind chimes, squirrel proof birdfeeders, outdoor wooden furniture, garden fountains and more.

Other related articles:

7 Ways to Transform Your Outdoor Living Space
Great Plants for Your Fall Outdoor Planters and Containers