Build a Better Winter View From Inside the House

Once the leaves are gone and the garden settles into winter, the view from inside your home becomes much more noticeable.

That is why fall is a good time to think about how your landscape will look in the months ahead. A garden does not need to be full of flowers to be interesting. Evergreens, colorful bark, berries, seed heads, grasses and strong plant shapes can all help create a landscape that still looks attractive long after the growing season slows down.

Start With the Views You See Most

Start by looking out the windows you use most often.

What do you see from the kitchen, living room or family room? Are there empty spaces that disappear into winter? Is there an area that could use more structure, privacy or color?

Those views can help guide where new plants may have the greatest impact.

Evergreens are an obvious place to start. They provide year-round color and can help create privacy, define garden spaces and give the landscape a strong framework through winter.

Shrubs with berries can add another layer of seasonal interest while also providing food for birds. Plants with colorful or textured bark can stand out once leaves have fallen, and ornamental grasses can continue adding movement and texture well into winter.

Even dried flower heads and seed heads can contribute to the winter garden when they are left standing.

Think Beyond the Bloom

When choosing plants, it is easy to focus only on how they look when they are flowering.

But many of the best landscape plants have more than one season of interest.

A shrub may bloom in spring, develop attractive foliage in fall and hold berries into winter. A perennial may flower in summer but continue adding texture through its seed heads. An evergreen can quietly provide structure all year long.

Thinking this way can help you build a landscape that feels more complete in every season.

Fall Is Still Planting Season

Fall is also an excellent time to add many trees, shrubs and perennials. Cooler temperatures can make planting easier on both the gardener and the plants, while roots can continue developing as long as soil conditions remain favorable.

Take a few minutes this October to look at your landscape from inside the house. The view you see now may give you some of the best clues about what your garden needs next.

The team at Redwood Nursery can help you select plants that provide structure, winter color, privacy and year-round interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What plants provide good winter interest?

Evergreens, shrubs with berries, plants with colorful or textured bark, ornamental grasses and perennials with attractive seed heads can all add interest during winter.

Why are evergreens important in the landscape?

Evergreens provide year-round color and structure. They can also be used for screening, privacy, wind protection and defining different areas of the landscape.

Should I cut back all my perennials in fall?

Not necessarily. Some perennials have attractive seed heads or stems that can add winter interest and may also provide food or shelter for wildlife.

Can ornamental grasses be left standing through winter?

Many ornamental grasses can be left standing through winter. Their dried foliage and seed heads can add texture and movement to the landscape before being cut back later.

Is fall still a good time to add shrubs and evergreens?

Yes. Fall can be a very good planting season because cooler air temperatures reduce stress while the soil may remain warm enough for roots to continue developing.