Strategies for Achieving Vibrant Colours Throughout the Year
Winter may be upon us, but it's the perfect time to plan ahead for colour in the months to come. By buying bare-root shrubs and trees, you can ensure a vibrant garden when the cold weather subsides [1]. Winter is also a great opportunity to sow seeds indoors for sweet peas, aubergines, and dahlias, as well as those that require a period of cold, or stratification, such as poppies and forget-me-nots [2].
As spring arrives, it's the ideal time to mulch borders and plant perennials. Continuous sowing through summer ensures a continual supply of new plants for flowering. Hardening seedlings in a cold frame before planting them outside is recommended in spring [3].
Spring is also the season for pruning. Shrubs that flower on the current year's growth should be pruned in early spring, while those that flower on growth produced in the previous year's growth, such as weigela, deutzia, philadelphus, and forsythia, should be pruned at the end of spring [4].
Perennials that can be divided in spring to produce new plants include daylilies, ornamental grasses, hostas, and rudbeckias [5]. Plants that respond well to deadheading or being cut back for more flowers, such as knautia, cosmos, and dahlias, are beneficial [6].
In spring, plants like hellebores and flowering trees such as the Tibetan cherry or Prunus serrula with white blossoms brighten the garden [7]. Long-blooming perennials such as ‘Moonbeam’ tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) and Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) produce continuous flowers from early summer well into fall [8]. Summer shrubs like hydrangeas add mass and color with large blooms [9].
Some shrubs, including those with autumn leaf color or berries, extend interest into fall. For instance, repeat-flowering roses and plants such as Salvia or geums bloom into autumn [1][2]. Evergreens like boxwood, juniper, and lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) provide greenery when most other plants lose leaves, and trees with interesting bark such as Prunus serrula add visual texture [1][2][5]. Also, plants with berries add color and attract wildlife.
By combining these types and choosing species suited to your climate zone, you create a layered planting design ensuring colour, texture, and structure in every season. Regular maintenance such as pruning and deadheading can prolong bloom times and keep plants healthy.
In summary:
| Season | Plant Types & Features | Examples | Use in Garden | |-----------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Spring | Early bloomers, flowering trees/shrubs | Hellebores, Tibetan cherry | Early color, floral focal points | | Summer | Long-blooming perennials, summer shrubs | Moonbeam tickseed, hydrangea | Continuous flowering and structural bloom | | Autumn | Late bloomers, autumn foliage, berries | Repeat-flowering roses, geums | Extending flowering and adding fall color | | Winter | Evergreens, bark interest, berries | Boxwood, juniper, Prunus serrula | Greenery, bark texture, bird-attracting berries |
This blend supports a visually appealing, low-maintenance garden with dynamic interest year-round [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] RHS. (n.d.). Planting for year-round interest. Retrieved from https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=423 [2] Gardening Know How. (n.d.). Winter Gardening: How to Grow Plants in Winter. Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/tips/winter-gardening.htm [3] BBC Gardeners' World. (n.d.). Sowing seeds in winter. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/howto/sowing_seeds_in_winter [4] HGTV. (n.d.). How to Plant Spring Bulbs. Retrieved from https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/gardens/how-to-plant-spring-bulbs [5] The Spruce. (n.d.). How to Prune Shrubs. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-prune-shrubs-1402780 [6] The Spruce. (n.d.). Deadheading Flowers: When and How to Deadhead Flowers. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/deadheading-flowers-1402782 [7] RHS. (n.d.). Hellebores. Retrieved from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13141/Helleborus/hellebores [8] The Spruce. (n.d.). Moonbeam Tickseed: Coreopsis Verticillata. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/moonbeam-tickseed-coreopsis-verticillata-1480073 [9] RHS. (n.d.). Hydrangeas. Retrieved from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13038/Hydrangea/hydrangeas
In the forthcoming seasons, consider incorporating long-lived plants into your lifestyle to create a harmonious home-and-garden, offering color and texture all year round. Spring, with its gentle breeze, is perfect for acquiring and planting home-and-garden essentials like early blooming flowers such as hellebores and summer shrubs like hydrangeas to ensure a vibrant start to your gardening ventures.
