Structure For The Winter Garden
How To Design For Interest Beyond Autumn
As autumn colour fades, the garden shifts into a quieter rhythm. This is when structure, form and texture take the lead — revealing the strength of a well-considered design. With thoughtful planning, a winter garden can remain elegant, engaging and full of life long after the leaves have fallen.
Anchoring With Structure
When seasonal planting recedes, shape and framework define the space. Clipped evergreens such as yew (Taxus baccata) and holly (Ilex aquifolium) give structure and rhythm, while ornamental grasses like Miscanthus sinensis and perennials such as Phlomis russeliana retain their seed heads, adding height, movement and subtle light-catching detail.
Hard landscaping plays a stronger role at this time of year — pergolas, stone walls, large pots and water features create focal points and balance. Their clean lines and material contrast ensure the garden remains visually grounded even in the stillness of winter.
Trees And Shrubs For Winter Character
With foliage gone, trees and shrubs reveal their sculptural qualities. The papery bark of Acer griseum, the white trunks of Betula utilis var. jacquemontii and the copper tones of Prunus serrula bring texture and interest to bare borders. For colour and scent, Cornus alba, Sarcococca confusa and Viburnum × bodnantense offer brightness and fragrance when it’s needed most.
Planting For Year-Round Interest
Ground-level planting maintains continuity through the seasons. Evergreen ferns, Heuchera and hellebores provide texture and tone, while early bulbs — snowdrops, crocus and winter aconite — punctuate the landscape with life as spring approaches. Layering planting in this way ensures the garden never feels static, even in the colder months.
Designing For Atmosphere And Use
A garden’s atmosphere in winter comes from how it’s experienced. A bench placed to catch the low afternoon sun, or a framed view through pleached hornbeam, invites moments outdoors. Thoughtful lighting and pathways help guide the eye, giving structure and softness even in shorter days.
A Garden For All Seasons
At HollandGreen, we design gardens that evolve beautifully throughout the year. In winter, it’s the strength of structure and proportion that sustains them — ensuring they remain calm, balanced and alive until the first signs of spring return.
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