EASY WAYS TO IMPROVE GARDEN STRUCTURE
Simple structural elements that can make a big difference
WHEN the majority of our plants curl up for their winter sleep, it is the framework of the garden that stands out. The layout, paths, large structures and furniture, plus the big plants and evergreens, are the bare bones of a garden, and with a few simple adjustments and planting additions, your plot can be transformed into a stunning winter scene.
Of course, these building blocks are important at any time of year, but in winter, with no froth of planting to disguise them, the heavy structures and solid plants step into the spotlight.
As climbers die back, the attractive metal and woodwork of arches and gazebos (bought from reclamation yards or purchased new) is revealed. Well-cut hedging takes on a graphic beauty in the barren winter scene, as do the mounded shapes of trimmed shrubs or evergreen topiary, which resemble big chess pieces on the icy ground. A good clipping session is like a sprinkle of fairy dust, turning the drab and dull into a beautiful scene of clean lines that is sheer magic when dusted with frost.
It’s worth investing in new structural elements: a round seat encircling a tree in the lawn; a beautifully shaped bench; a statue or sundial placed in the centre of a flowerbed or a patio.
And if you fancy a more ambitious project, consider installing a brick path that curves away from the house, or a pond with a graphic shape, such as a circle or a hexagon.
Solid structures – a bench, gate or pergola, perhaps – can be painted to amplify their skeletal winter beauty. Red looks stunning in snow, but blue fits perfectly with the cold mood of winter.
The colour and sheen of solid evergreens will also work wonders. The glossy green foliage of mahonia and holly, for example, is breathtaking when it catches the light. Or try the cheering yellow of the ‘Golden Spreader’ fir, the dwarf pine ‘Carsten’ and the grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, which is an upright column of gold-beige. Then there’s the white-barked Himalayan birch and the coppery-red Tibetan cherry tree – both offer not only stunning colour but an attractive shape, too.
Finally, water – even that of a simple and inexpensive bird bath – will reflect the sun and the sky. Outdoor mirrors, too, resemble slabs of ice and capture that unique seasonal light. Who says the midwinter garden has to be dull?