GARDEN DESIGN Garden design by Colette Charsley Is your garden a winter wonderland?
horticultural spotlight and there is no reason not to be able to go outside, even if it is just to sit for five minutes with a cup of coffee. As with everything, planning and forethought are crucial if you
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are to benefit from a winter garden. Hopefully you have created somewhere sheltered to sit so that you are in the sun and out of the wind. Keep a couple of cushions easily to hand inside so that you can grab them whenever the weather is reasonable. It doesn’t matter if it is cold, just wrap up warmly. You could even light a firepit and
ust because it is winter doesn’t mean that you cannot continue to use and enjoy your garden. there are a lot of plants that are having their moment in the
toast something delicious on it. Once you are outside have a look at your planting. The prima donnas of summer are long gone. However some species such as phlomis russeliana, sedums, cornus and ornamental grasses have died and dried beautifully and their bronze and gold structures will stand all winter. Evergreens will also add valuable mass and structure. If you are worried about using box, use ilex crenata which can also be clipped. Try planting for fragrance. Some of the best are sarcococca, winter flowering honeysuckle, witch hazel, chimonanthus praecox and viburnum. They really do smell superb on a cold winters day. There are winter clematis, aconites, cyclamen and hellebores in
Don’t try to floodlight everything, as it will only end up looking like an airport
flower as well as snowdrops and early narcissus. The hours of daylight may be short, but if you add some
sarcococca confusa winter aconite winter flowering honeysuckle
carefully placed lights you will be able to use the garden after dark and, probably more significantly, see it from inside the house. Trust me on this. Wait for a suitable evening. Don’t close the curtains. Collect a selection of torches, lanterns, and candles and go outside and place them around the garden. Then go back inside and look through the windows to see a transformation. Don’t try to floodlight everything, as it will only end up looking like an airport. Just dot lights around interesting plants, features and pathways. Do use lights specifically made for outdoor use and get the best you can as they will, in the long run, last longer.
colette@charsleydesign.com www.charsleydesign.com t: 01803 722449. m: 07774 827799 Follow me on twitter @ ColetteCharsley
Professional Landscape and Garden Design
Creative and beautiful designs for village, town and country gardens
Colette Charsley PG Dip OCGD 01803 722449 07774 827799
colette@charsleydesign.com www.charsleydesign.com
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