@Plantminded If it is not pouring with rain or the ground is frozen I will go out and do something in the garden even if it is just to sweep a path. Regular brushing keeps the weeds down anyway.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I'm intrigued that some of the devoted gardeners here ignore their gardens over winter! During those dark, gloomy days I couldn't bear looking at a wasteland. I'd really miss those fantastic frost formations on evergreens and the reflected light and shadows from the snowy outlines of bare trees and unpruned perennials. This may not persuade you, but here goes!
Wow! Really stunning. I agree that winter is well worth considering, even if you only look out at the garden from the kitchen window. It's nice to have things out there that would tempt you outside as well.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thank you very much for your thoughts @GardenerSuze, @Loxley and @WAMS. You’ve summed it up very well @Loxley, my winter gardening is mainly stop and stare at the kitchen window!
That would depend on where you live @ElbFee. Not every part of the UK is in drought ridden land.
I never understand it either @Plantminded. Winter interest is very important to me - especially if you're looking at a garden regularly through late autumn/winter and waiting for spring to arrive. I love seeing all the things you mention - frosts/snow, ice on the pond, and the emerging bulbs in February/March
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When I said I don't mind if my garden is bare in the winter I didn't mean it's totally bare! It has flowers up to the first frosts, there are trees and shrubs, including a few evergreen shrubs. I have planted lots of bulbs, snowdrops, daffodils etc. December and first half of January are the barest, but then I'm doing other things, Christmas, visiting family, redecorating etc. But my garden is at its best from spring to autumn. I'm happy to see fairly bare borders in winter knowing that my plants are there, asleep, waiting to appear when spring arrives.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I thought you would too @Fairygirl! Preparing the garden during the growing season to also provide some welcome interest over winter is important to me in a small garden. I also find the short, dark gloomy days difficult without something half decent to look at in the garden. My actual physical gardening over winter is limited though to moving the weight of snow off some plants if necessary and keeping the steps and paths free of ice!
Agree with the list, and like Hostafan1 said about amount of effort - that is also the TIME you have to create and then maintain.
I know people who desire a envisaged garden, but as they currently struggle to keep on top of basic grass cutting and pot-watering, would they realistically have the time to devote? I also know people who throw money at having landscaping/patio etc and buy a truck-load of plants, but can’t find the time to do the up-keep and then weeds arrive, plants die (wrong place, not watered etc) and the vision has not matched the reality. On the flip side, some of the best gardens I have seen have been done on a budget (growing from seed, cuttings, donated plants etc) with pure hard graft (digging up lawns or making a pond yourself) and a passion to learn how to keep the planting healthy and thriving, often taking years to evolve.
The biggest lesson I have learnt is that you can’t fight nature - you need to know your soil, sun position and climate plus understand the needs of any plants you have. You might love the idea of Lavender by your front gate, but if the soil is clay, wet and shady then forget it.
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I never understand it either @Plantminded. Winter interest is very important to me - especially if you're looking at a garden regularly through late autumn/winter and waiting for spring to arrive. I love seeing all the things you mention - frosts/snow, ice on the pond, and the emerging bulbs in February/March
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...