Plants That Work For A Winter Interest Garden

Create a Winter Interest Garden With Plant by Number Design

Tired of your garden disappearing into a dull patch of brown when winter hits? The Winter Interest Garden Plant by Number is your answer to four-season appeal. This 18-by-9-foot design is packed with vibrant foliage, textural grasses, colorful berries, and evergreen structure to keep your landscape looking lively even in the coldest months.

Created by landscape architect Katie Weber, this easy-to-follow planting plan is designed for USDA growing zones 5 to 8 and thrives in full sun. With a thoughtfully balanced mix of evergreens, flowering winter-interest shrubs, ornamental grasses, and groundcovers, this garden keeps its good looks through snow, frost, and everything in between.

Whether you're dressing up a foundation bed or creating a bold border in the backyard, this layout makes it easy to grow something beautiful in every season.

What’s Included in the Winter Interest Garden Plan

This 18-foot by 9-foot rectangular garden is perfect for:

• Sunny front yard foundation beds
• Borders visible from windows or patios
• Backdrops for seating areas and entryways
• Gardens that need structure and color in winter
• Front yard garden berms
• Wildlife and Bird-Friendly garden spaces

The downloadable design includes a planting diagram, spacing guide, seasonal care tips, and a Nature Hills will ship you the plants and kit so you can install a professional-quality garden with confidence!

This winter-ready garden features:

• 1 Winterberry Holly for glossy foliage all growing season and bright red berries in winter
• 3 Boxwood shrubs for classic year-round structure
• 1 red Oakleaf Hydrangea for stunning fall foliage and dried flower heads in winter
• 7 Little Bluestem Grass for upright blades and bronze-red tones in cold weather
• 5 Blue Fescue for tidy blue mounds and icy cool color all year
• 12 pink-flowering carpet Sedum groundcovers to knit the space together with foliage that holds its shape even in frost

Each plant is selected by our experts to work together beautifully! Each plays a role in creating texture, color, and architectural interest that lasts well beyond the growing season!

Step by Step: How to Install a Plant by Number Garden

1. Pick Your Plan: Download the Winter Interest Garden plan PDF, which includes layout, plant list, and care guide.
   
   
2. Prep Your Site: Clear the area of grass and weeds. Shape the bed and amend the soil if needed.
   
   
3. Lay Out the Design: Use the included diagram to position each plant. Optional plant markers can help!
   
   
4. Dig and Plant: Dig holes twice as wide as the pot and plant at the same depth as in the container.
   
   
5. Water and Mulch: Water thoroughly, then apply a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch to retain moisture. Water regularly during the first year using the Finger Test.
   
   
6. Maintain and Enjoy: Follow the included tips for deadheading, watering, and pruning. Or download the PDF.

Caring for and Maintaining Your Winter Interest Garden

This garden is made to be as easy-care as it is enchanting. Most of the plants are drought-tolerant once established, deer-resistant, and tough enough for variable weather.

• Prune Boxwood in early spring and Winterberry Holly in late winter to shape if needed
• Cut back Little Bluestem and Fescue in early spring before new growth emerges
• Leave Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms standing in winter for visual interest and prune after spring bud break
• Sedum requires little care and adds sculptural appeal even under snow
• Reapply arborist mulch each spring for moisture control and winter root protection

Let Your Garden Shine All Year

The Winter Interest Garden by Plant by Number ensures your landscape never goes dormant in style. With rich colors, crisp lines, and strong structure, this layout brings elegance to your yard in every season, especially when everything else fades. Red Sprite Holly offers cheerful berries that attract overwintering songbirds, while the seed heads of grasses and Hydrangeas provide food and shelter for small wildlife.

From seasonal color and pollinator-friendly blooms to berry-loving birds, this garden becomes a year-round haven for you and the creatures that call your garden home.

Order your Winter Interest Garden plan today and create a landscape that looks alive and full of life in every season. Nature Hills Nursery will ship your plants and kit at the proper planting time for your growing zone.