5 Must-Haves for the Winter Garden
In the winter, we often tend to stay indoors. But who says you can’t enjoy your garden even in the winter? With evergreens and winter-blooming plants, you can turn your garden into a beautiful winter garden and a pleasant place to spend time. So bundle up and head outside: Turn your garden into a place full of life and warmth!
With just a few additions and elements, you can transform your dull and bare garden into a lively space full of movement, entertainment, and warmth. These are the must-haves that will help you get the most out of your winter garden. Think of a bird feeder, atmospheric garden lighting, protection to keep your furniture and plants looking good and in good condition, and, of course, a warm and cozy fire. That way, you can enjoy your garden even on the coldest days!
Bird Feeding Station
Birds bring life to the garden. During the winter months, birds have a harder time finding food, so it’s very easy to attract them to your garden with birdseed. With a bird feeder in your garden, you’ll soon attract plenty of birds! Consider a birdhouse, feeding table, or feeder silo, and refill it regularly with birdseed, seeds, nuts, and suet balls.
Place the feeding station close to the house (but in a sheltered spot and out of reach of cats), so you can enjoy watching all the visitors to your garden from inside your home.
Atmospheric Garden Lighting
In winter, the days are naturally short. Enjoy your garden longer with garden lighting. By adding lighting to your garden, you’ll create a cozier atmosphere, avoid looking out from your home at a dark void, and make your garden safer.
There are countless options when it comes to outdoor lighting: from solar-powered lights to low-voltage (12-volt) systems, LED lighting, and mains-powered lighting. You can easily install most of these yourself, but it’s best to have a licensed electrician install mains-powered lighting.
Light up your paths, the patio, the entrance to your home, the shed, and/or the gate, and put a beautiful plant or garden ornament in the spotlight. Don’t forget garden torches, lanterns, and garden candles to add even more ambiance to your garden.
Protection for furniture, pots, and plants
Winter weather conditions can significantly shorten the lifespan of your garden items. A combination of wet conditions and frost, in particular, can cause problems. Protect your garden furniture, (terracotta) pots, and less cold-hardy plants so you can enjoy them for a long time to come.
You can protect plants that aren't fully hardy with garden fabric, burlap, or a plant protection cover. Remove the protective material when temperatures rise so the plants don't start to rot.
You can protect planters and pots (especially terracotta ones) by insulating them—for example, with burlap or bubble wrap.
It's best to store garden furniture, garden sets, and lounge sets in the shed (but you'll need to have enough space for that). You can also protect your garden furniture with a special garden furniture cover.
To be sitting pretty
Who says you can't sit in the garden in winter? As long as you dress warmly and it's dry (or if you have a covered area), you can easily sit outside in winter. It’s wonderful to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea outside, especially in winter, or to sit around the fire pit.
A fleece blanket or throw will keep you nice and warm, and with waterproof cushions on your patio furniture, you can still sit outside in complete comfort. A patio heater will make sure you have a nice, warm spot!
Cozy fire pit
A nice, warm, crackling fire is a must-have in any winter garden. With a fire pit, fire bowl, or outdoor fireplace, you can create warmth and a cozy atmosphere. It’s ideal for a cozy evening with family and friends. You could even cook, grill, or barbecue over the fire using a special grate.
Of course, you need to have enough firewood and kindling if you want to be able to get a good fire going. Fortunately, a nice wood shed can be a charming addition to your yard.
Enjoy your garden even in the winter!
With these must-haves for your winter garden, you’ll be well-equipped to make the most of your outdoor space, even as temperatures drop and the days grow shorter. So don’t let winter stop you from enjoying your garden. Put on some warm clothes, turn on the outdoor lights, light a fire, and enjoy your garden, even on the coldest days.
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