10 Winter Garden Spruce-ups

Discover how to keep your garden vibrant during the cool season.



An edging of white cyclamen
An edging of white cyclamen


Supplement existing plants
Supplement existing plants, such as the azaleas and ferns pictured, with an edging of white cyclamen. Tuck lamium or a similar variegated plant between the cyclamen to add a lacy skirt of frosty-looking greenery.


Wrap tree trunks with white lights
Wrap tree trunks with white lights


Add lighting

For a soft glow at night, wrap tree trunks and branches with strands of white lights.

Define borders by placing small candles in glass holders along mow strips, walls, and walkways.


Enhance beds with potted plants
Enhance beds with potted plants


Plant a border in pots

Enhance narrow in-ground beds with a row of potted plants.

In the small, shaded side yard shown, cylindrical chocolate brown pots filled with white cyclamen line up against the raised border's low brick wall, making the fern-filled planting appear deeper than it is.
More on winter container gardens


Flank the entry with potted plants
Flank the entry with potted plants


Accent the front entry

Flank the entry with potted plants.

Fountainlike burgundy cordyline plays off white cyclamen and plum 'Palace Purple' heuchera in bowls atop brick pillars. The pot at the base contains white cyclamen, lamium, and red nandina.


Hang an evergreen wreath
Hang an evergreen wreath


Wreath for a garden gate

To welcome family and friends, hang an evergreen wreath from a ribbon that coordinates with the flowers and foliage. Tie the ribbon to a gate, or hang several wreaths at different heights from tree branches.
Make your own wreath


Dress a doorstep with containers
Dress a doorstep with containers


Group pots

Dress a doorstep with containers.

The pots pictured, of different sizes but the same color, contain plants in shades that echo the garden's overall scheme. In the smallest pot, fiber optics plant mixes with heuchera, lamium, and cyclamen. In the one at left, nandina pops against lamium, cyclamen, and hellebore. The tallest pot holds fine-leafed rosemary, cordyline, cyclamen, and heuchera.


Protect your plants from cold
Protect your plants from cold


Use mulch

Discover how to protect your plants from cold temperatures with our easy video tutorial.


Drape fabric around plants
Drape fabric around plants


Keep your plants safe

Drape fabric around tender plants when the forecast calls for frost.


Brighten your garden
Brighten your garden


Add touches of winter white

Brighten your garden with white flowers and frosty foliage.
More on winter gardens


Plant bulbs in milder climates
Plant bulbs in milder climates


Plant bulbs
In milder climates, you can continue paving the way for flowers.

Before you plant, make sure each flower will grow well in your climate zone with our Plant Finder. And if you don't know your climate zone, look it up here.