Winter Garden Ideas And Things To Do In December, January And February

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Winter Garden With Snow Covered Beautyberry (photo by Trevor Brien / My Garden Plot)
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Winter Gardens

Winter Garden Interest And Reflection

How quickly a year goes by, and here we are again reflecting on the garden as it rests. Plants are dormant in winter gardens. Branches and stems show off their shapely network like stark natural edifices drawing our attention to their form. Winter is a season that brings to light the structures of shrubs and trees.

We may rest our gardening thumbs in December and long to hibernate for a while. But mid- to late-winter is an ideal time for pruning deciduous shrubs and trees. Even during quiet times, gardening continues to occupy our thoughts, with the things to do, such as maintenance tasks and pruning, and planning what to do for spring and summer gardening. We look back and review our successes of the year and the delightful surprises along the way. And no doubt our gardening experiments that perhaps took a different route than we expected. But most of all, it is a time when we take a moment to think about new garden ideas, and anticipate a fresh gardening season ahead.

THINGS TO DO: Scroll down the page for winter garden maintenance tips.

West Coast Gardens And Winter Conditions

In the Pacific Northwest, winter gardens encompass weather conditions that vary throughout December, January and February. For other regions, the winter season may be longer, and for others perhaps shorter. For some, winter means a garden buried under snow for months; and for milder regions, just a dusting of snow at most.

In southern Vancouver Island, we could see some snow, or not. Generally our winter weather is mild but with certainty lots of rainfall, some sunny breaks, and our share of winter storms with strong, gusty winds. It seems now that it is becoming the norm to have at least one week of snow – often, heavy wet snow. The type of snow that bends and can misshapen branches from the weight. But as much as we wish a white Christmas, often any snow is likely to be in January or February.

In any case, I love how frost sparkles off the stems of deciduous stems. And how our rhododendrons and camellia evergreen foliage glisten from rain. But by February I anxiously anticipate the season change and the renewed energy that comes with spring gardening.

Plants For Winter Colour And Interest In Pacific Northwest Gardens

Gardening Checklists For Winter Conditions In The Pacific Northwest

Quiet Month For Gardening In December (photo by Trevor Brien / My Garden Plot)

Early Winter Gardening Checklist

December is the quietest month of the year in terms of gardening tasks. Here is a list of activities that need to be done subject to weather conditions in early winter season.

What To Do In The Garden In January, Mid Winter (photo by Trevor Brien / My Garden Plot)

Mid Winter Gardening Checklist

The start to a new year and excitement of gardening and new growth. The weather in our region in January can vary from wet and cold to mild and sunny. But there are things to do and mid winter gardening tasks to complete.

Evergreen Clematis armandii flower buds (photo by Rosana Brien / My Garden Plot)

Late Winter Gardening Checklist

By late winter most gardeners are ready for spring to arrive. Here is a list of things to do in the garden in February. Plan those gardening tasks to prep vegetable and flower beds.

FEATURE PHOTO: About Callicarpa (Beautyberry) Shrubs And Winter Berries