"Gardening in winter"

Gardening in winter can be a delight.
Sunday, 25 June 2023     

Jonquils from the garden of my grandmother bloom now

It can be quite hard to motivate oneself to go outside to do a spot of gardening on a winter's day. But it's a lot easier if it's nice weather - with the sun shining and the temperature mild - as we have had a run of lately in Sydney. On a bleak, cold day with leaden skies, the thought of lying on the sofa under a cosy throw rug with a good book has far greater appeal. On such days, it can take all my self-discipline to don my gardening clothes and head out to do some tasks. I usually bribe myself by saying that if I put the gardening clothes ON, I can then have a cup of tea on a garden bench before having to start work. Before I know it, though, with my cuppa half-drunk, I find myself engaged in the garden, checking out my plants, seeing weeds, and desperate to do some gardening! Having some winter-blooming plants in flower (such as the jonquils, pictured above) can also lure us on to explore the garden. Once I start moving, I find I do warm up quite well and I begin to enjoy myself.

There is something so peaceful and tranquil about the garden in winter. There is a stillness that doesn't seem to be present in other seasons. One can almost feel that everything has slowed down and somehow that seems to help relax the gardener's mind down too - quite therapeutic when the rest of life is busy. Because there is not the frantic growth of spring and summer, one can go about one's gardening in a less hurried manner. In turn, this gives us time to really look at our gardens and plants closely.

Such examination yields a number of benefits. We can find exciting little seedlings that have come up; in other seasons, we might not even notice them. At the moment, I am enjoying spotting seedlings of such spring annuals as Orlaya, Nigella, Nicotiana langsdorffii, honesty and forget-me-nots that have self-seeded. There are also seedlings of perennials such as hellebores and Linaria appearing, and even baby shrubs, such as Rhinacanthus beesiana. I leave some of these seedlings where they are, thin out others so the remainders can have a decent amount of space, and dig up the rest to be sold on the sales table of the local garden club.

It's also a delight to look at the fresh foliage of spring bulbs and corms, and dream about their flowers in spring. It's fascinating to look at the bare tracery of twigs on deciduous spring-blooming shrubs, too, and visualise that in just a few months time, they will be covered in gorgeous flowers. It is sometimes hard to believe that all the gaps in the garden will fill in again, but I know they will! I often grow quick-growing crops of herbs and leafy vegetables in the gaps in my borders in winter where Dahlia, for example, lie dormant; however, this year I am going to experiment with plunging in some temporary 'potted colour' to see how that goes.

Another great advantage of having time to stop and stare in the winter garden is that it gives us a chance to work out what is in the wrong place and where it might be better sited. It seems easier to gauge this in winter, when all the frippery of flowers and many leaves has gone and we see the bare bones of the garden. And, what is even better, is that winter is simply the best time to move plants around! The cooler weather and slowed growth allows them to get over the shock and stress of being moved and the prognosis of the transplant is much better than plants moved in the warmer months. Do keep any moved plant well watered, however, for some weeks. A dose of Seasol in the water will help the plant to recover well.

I start cutting back some of my plants at this time of year. Salvia plants that show their new growth at the base of the shrub (such as Salvia leucantha and 'Meigan's Magic') can safely be pruned now except in the very cold suburbs, when this job is best left to late winter or very early spring. I also cut back all my ornamental grasses now (mainly Miscanthus cultivars), along with my daylilies and Kniphofia. The foliage of the latter two plants is cut to the ground, as are all the dead stems of the Dahlia. Plants which are more semitropical, such as my Acanthaceae plants, other Salvia and Plectranthus are left until August, so that their existing leafy canopies will protect them from cold spells . Of course, spring-blooming shrubs are left well alone, otherwise we will be removing their flowering wood! Hydrangea can be tackled, and in July it will be time to do roses and Fuchsia cultivars. It's good to be able to spread out the cutting back over several months, as all our prunings go through the mulching machine: a daunting job. I love removing all the old foliage and imagining the new leaves growing, all fresh and pristine, in a few months' time.

And of course, there are many winter flowers to enjoy whilst you are in the garden at this time: Daphne; Salvia such as 'Timboon', 'Costa Rica Blue', Salvia elegans Purple Form and Salvia rubiginosa; Camellia japonica; Corsican hellebores; Abutilon; Tagetes lemmonii - and many more! See here for what is out in my garden at the moment.

Blog first posted 25 June 2017; updated 25 June 2023.


 Reader Comments

1/10  Mary - 2089 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2017

Yes, it"s good to slow down though winter is short; some of the old leaves on my fig trees are still hanging on but new leaves have already emerged. Yes there are already signs of spring with buds etc! Deirdre


2/10  Gillian - 2119 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2017

Like you I had a productive day in the garden as well. Totally rugged up I raked up all the autumn leaves and put them in the compost bin. Trimmed off the old foliage to make way for the new on my Salvia Leucantha, cut back Sasanqua Camellias and basically tidied up areas in the front garden. Put the sprinkler on throughout the garden and just enjoyed being there observing new growth. My two large Salvias are flowering namely:"Timboon" and"Karwinskii" planted towards the back of the garden.Sounds a great gardening day! Those big winter-flowering salvias are amazing, aren"t they. I think they combine well with camellias. Deirdre


3/10  Kerrie - 2104 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2017

Spot on, very well said. My little dog & gardening companion has had some eye surgeries that have left him unable to see until he heals so I"ve not been able to get out into the garden. What i have enjoyed is reading all my gardening books mostly the ones from great gardens I"ve visited around the world. Sounds a great way to spend a winter"s day, Kerrie! Deirdre


4/10  Georgina - 2076 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2017

Hi Deirdre, Take a cuppa out to the garden and that"s where I"ll be for the day-even hanging out the clothes can take hours! Love "Matron"s Rounds" each day no matter what the weather. Winter in Sydney is beautiful. I love those rounds - I look at each plant and admire it (or see something eating it). Deirdre


5/10  Bryce - 4275 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2017

Well I"m digging up tiger grass to take home to my patch tomoz! Will definitely keep me warm getting it out. Sounds great! Deirdre


6/10  Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Wednesday, 28 June 2017

I delight in wandering around the garden in winter. Although the weather is usually cold, and sometimes windy,the little treasures which appear, unheralded, more than make up for the miserable weather. Seedlings in my garden of lupins, schizanthus and poppy varieties, as well as new plantings of Dutch iris, Iris reticulata and ifafa lilies are all making an appearance. Old favourites, such as snowflakes and jonquils are already blooming. It is a joy to spend time wandering in the winter garden. I love seeing all the little details that I wouldn"t notice at other times of the year. Deirdre


7/10  Michael - 2463 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Nice blog!I think gardening in winter is not that tough. If one have interest in getting the flowers bloomed up in his garden, no season is tough for him. Or else hiring the professionals who can give better gardening advice along with the attractive landscapes is the better option. We are lucky in Sydney to have a mild winter so lots of things can bloom in the cooler months! Deirdre


8/10  Pamela - 2158 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 26 June 2023

Havent we had a beautiful run of sunny mild days so civilised for gardening. Im out by 8am and finish by 5 so I get to relax for an hour before I start dinner.I have no choice as it takes me at least 3 mths to get it all cut down before feeding and mulching.I prune my roses 1st week of August so have to make sure most is cut back by then so I can get to the roses. I love having a cuppa outside now, its warmer out than in! We are so spoilt with Sydney winters.Dont like the cold mornings though. Pamela, I am in awe of your energy! I used to be able to do those hours 30 years ago but my limit is a couple of hours a day now, mainly due to an arthritic back that protests if I try to do too much at one time. However, I am making progress by my daily efforts! Deirdre


9/10  Charlie - 3002 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Monday, 26 June 2023

I have a postage-stamp sized inner city garden so get my gardening fix by volunteering at a large heritage garden nearby. Salvia wagneriana is spectacular at the moment, introduced to the garden by someone who found it in his mothers garden after she died. Salvia Timboon also flowering well in a space where it can reach full height and spread. So much in flower, from irises to abutilons, stenocarpus (now theres a spectacular display) to jonquils. Who said winter gardens are dull and bare! How wonderful to be able to work in that heritage garden. It sounds amazing, Good to be able to have the space for those big salvias to spread. Deirdre


10/10  Kay - 3149 (Zone:10 - Mediteranean) Tuesday, 27 June 2023

I am reading all these Sydney posts and feeling rather jealous of your great winter weather. It has been cold as can be here the last week in Melbourne, the winds have been bitter, however I have been braving this and going out to see all the salvia, camellias and spring bulbs is a joy. I had actually forgotten how much is out in winter including seeing my first wattle flowering today. Well, I envy the cool climate treasures that grow in Melbourne! Deirdre


Make a comment

* You can only post comments on Blogs if you are signed in. If you are already registered please go to the Home page and Sign-In first. If you are not an iGarden member please click here to register now.

My eBooks (PDF)

Plant of the week

Most-recent blogs

Early-autumn daisies
24 Mar 24
Daisies contribute to the beauty of early autumn in Sydney gardens.

Paradise revisited
17 Mar 24
I revisit a stunning Sydney acreage garden.

A bromeliad solution
10 Mar 24
Bromeliads provide a solution to difficult, dry, shady spots in Sydney gardens.

Refreshing whites for hot days
03 Mar 24
These white flowers add a touch of coolth,

Grooming the garden
25 Feb 24
Prepare your garden for a renewed lease of life in early autumn.

Previously at this time

2009 - 27 Jun
2012 - 24 Jun
2014 - 15 Jun
2016 - 26 Jun
2018 - 24 Jun
2020 - 28 Jun
2021 - 27 Jun
2022 - 26 Jun

Promotions