What would you put in a “winter garden”?

[Anonymous]

After several years fiddling with my (unusually deep) rowhouse garden I know that I can barely stand to be out there May-Sept because of mosquitos and that will never change because of neighbors’ habits.

But I love being out there in fall, winter and early spring. I want to focus my bloom times and maintenance during those times as much as possible. Early spring is already strong but are there plants you recommend for winter and fall interest?

My research suggests witch hazel and red-stemmed dogwood…maybe a redbud with bold autumn leaves?

thank you!

[Anonymous]

Does right now count as fall for you? My asters are beautiful now, and the black eyed Susan are still blooming. Native trumped honeysuckle still going strong. Holly is always nice for winter with the red berries. Autumn Joy sedum is good, too.

[Anonymous]

I love camellias for winter/early spring.
Hellebores, columbines and bleeding hearts are early spring bloomers.
I wouldn’t write off the summers completely though. If you have enough sun you can do low-maintenance native perennials like cardinal flower and coneflowers, in addition to what PP suggested. Goldenrod is also a great choice for fall. And hardy mums.

[Anonymous]

No native but Japanese anemone. You could plant ornamental kale as an annual. Purple asters are very pretty in the Fall.

[Anonymous]

As you are picking, try to add in a few summer blooming options in spots that are visible from inside your home. That may be something as simple as annuals that you plant before the heat of the summer - and the mosquitos.

[Anonymous]

Cats

[Anonymous]

I feel the same way. It’s always nice to do spring bulbs. You can treat them like annuals if you don’t mind spending the money. Go nuts with fun tulips, etc, then when they’re done put in an annual and come back in the fall.

+1 to asters, anemones and also dahlias and goldenrod. Also roses - my “continuous” David Austen roses basically have a big show in May and another in September, and they’ll keep blooming until a hard frost.

[Anonymous]

Autumn clematis

Asters

My natives are still going strong - wood asters, ironweed, turtleheads.

Native honeysuckle

The dried out coneflower and black eyed Susan are a favorite of goldfinches

Autumn Joy Sedum

Geranium, pansy and violas, wave petunias, marigolds, moonbeam coreopsis, cosmos, Russian sage, Spanish verbena will continue to do well from Spring to summer with just some good fertilizer and aggressive deadheading and pruning,

Of course, daffodils and tulips need to be planted now. Put in leaf grow and mulch now and try and protect your vulnerable bushes and trees from the heavy snow that we will get this winter from El Niño.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you, everyone! What wonderful tips. I am busy looking up many of these plants.

I bought this book about what to do in the garden every month in the mid Atlantic. I’m trying to look at the tasks in June-September and eliminate the plants that require most of those tasks.

[Anonymous]

Most of my dahlias are just starting to bloom and should continue until November if you're looking for additional ideas for late fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you, everyone! What wonderful tips. I am busy looking up many of these plants.

I bought this book about what to do in the garden every month in the mid Atlantic. I’m trying to look at the tasks in June-September and eliminate the plants that require most of those tasks.

Would you share the name of the book? I’d love to read it too.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for a small tree, I love coral bark maples for winter interest.

[Anonymous]

A plant not brought up - Solidago species (goldenrod). They get a bad rap because people think they cause hayfever, but that's actually caused by ragweed. Goldenrods and asters are my top two pollinator magnets.

You should also look into shorter grasses. Pink muhly grass is a native, and looks fabulous in the fall. Most grasses have seedheads that add interest to the winter garden. Just be mindful of not planting things that are thuggish/invasive.

Probably my favorite plant for fall/early summer interest is Itea. White blooms in late spring/early summer, and red leaves in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you, everyone! What wonderful tips. I am busy looking up many of these plants.

I bought this book about what to do in the garden every month in the mid Atlantic. I’m trying to look at the tasks in June-September and eliminate the plants that require most of those tasks.

Would you share the name of the book? I’d love to read it too.

NP. This is the book I got long ago:
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/month-by-month-gardening-in-the-mid-atlantic-delaware-maryland-virginia-washington-dc-month-by-month-gardening-in-the-mid-atlantic-delaware-maryland-virginia--washington-dc_mark-viette_andre-viette/1249960/item/44742363/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_frontlist_under_%2410&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpc-oBhCGARIsAH6ote97Gl9eC_XYEs-j1hEphes4quDfDM5QB2RT-7LZZyGXOOeKlz6NPUAaAsRCEALw_wcB#idiq=44742363&edition=4460174

[Anonymous]

OP here. This is the book I’ve been using https://www.amazon.com/Mid-Atlantic-Month-Month-Gardening-Beautiful/dp/1591866421/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=16V8LLM9PA52F&keywords=mid+atlantic+gardening+book&qid=1696039978&sprefix=midatlantic+gardening+book%2Caps%2C338&sr=8-16