by Cathy Nutting, City Horticulturalist
As the growing season winds down and we head toward the holidays, I am glad to have survived the frantic pace of spring, summer, and fall garden tasks. I look forward to beginning the work of planning next years flower displays and landscaping projects. And yet, as the days grow colder and shorter, I long for the color and lush foliage of summer. As I look out the window, I realize I didnt plan for the fourth season of the year, winter. The places where annuals were are bare, and the spots where the perennials and bulbs slumber are blank. Blah, blah, blah.
Gardens dont have to look empty all winter, even in Iowa. Since we know winter will last for about 5 months, we might as well look beyond flowers and choose plants with year-round interest. Plants with colorful or interesting bark and twigs, abundant berries or pods, beautiful leaves or needles, or a pleasing shape and silhouette are less dramatic than flowers but last longer and war well.
Before we choose plants, we need to evaluate the underlying structure of the yard and garden. The proportions of the beds and pathways, the scale and placement of permanent plantings, the lines of fences and edgings, and the placement of benches or ornaments can all be easier to see in winter. If one or more of these elements is out of balance with the rest, now is the time to take notice and decide what needs to be changed.
We also must consider the growing conditions in our yard. Some areas that look sunny in winter are actually shady in summer when the trees have leaves. The soil type, moisture, and slope in a given spot will also affect how well a particular plant will grow. Plants at the top of a slope will tend to be drier than plants at the bottom. If we can choose plants that will thrive in the conditions we have in our yards, we have a much greater chance having healthy plants that can withstand our climate extremes.
Many trees and shrubs have brightly colored twigs or interesting bark texture that doesnt show up well when they are covered by leaves. Heritage river birch (Betul nigra) has beautiful caramel-and-cream bark that peels off in large, flaky sheets. Birch bark starts to color, peel, and curl when the tree is 10 to 12 feet tall. Heritage birch is quite resistance to the bronze birch borer that often attacks other birch trees. Our native red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a shrub with bright red twigs in winter. Plant this one where the sun shines on the stems in winter to really enjoy the great color. It will have an arching habit and grows about 6 feet tall. Winged euonymus (Euonymus alata compacta) has bright red fall color and interesting corky winged stems in the winter. It grows 6-8 feet tall and responds well to pruning.
Plants with shiny, bright berries add brighter highlights to the winter garden. New varieties of crabapples offer small trees that have disease-resistant foliage and small fruits that often hang on the tree most of the winter. Two varieties that I like are Prairiefire and Donald Wyman. Prairiefire offers magenta flowering in spring, dark red fruits, and red-barked twigs. It offers excellent disease resistance and grows to about 20 feet with a vase-shaped crown. Donald Wyman has white flowers and bright red fruits. It grows 20 feet tall with a rounded crown. Cranberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculata) is a low spreading shrub with arching stems, tiny almost shiny leaves, and bright red berries. This shrub looks great with snow outlining the branches. It grows bout 3 feet tall and wide.
Grasses often are not thought of as a winter plant, but many look good most of the winter. Many cultivars of maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) are attractive in winter. After a hard frost the leaves turn warm beige or tan. The 6-7 foot clumps of foliage and stalks add height, form, and an element of movement to the winter garden. Add to this the fluffy seed heads that attract birds and sparkle in the sun. Most Miscanthus cultivars hold up well to rain and dry snow and wont collapse until hit with heavy ice or wet snow. I like cultivars Gracillimus and Malepartus.
The following grasses also hold up in winter: Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acuflora) forms narrow, erect c lumps 4-5 feel tall, Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) makes broad, dense clumps of foliage topped with a cloud of delicate, see-through flower stalks, Blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) has striking, stiff blue-green foliage with golden wheat-colored blooms win summer and grows to about 2 feet tall, and finally, Blue fescue Elijah Blue (Festuca cinerea) has tuffs of very blue, fine textured foliage that grows 10-12 inches tall and remains semi-evergreen through winter.
A planting designed for winter will give you months of steady pleasure. Details that are not noticed in the rush and exuberance of summer are appreciated again and again in winter. You may even decide you like your garden better in winter because you have less to do and more time to enjoy it!
