Flower Bed Designs For Winter and Fall (colorful cold weather ideas!)
Winters flower garden CAN have pops of color that last all season – and of course, FALL flower beds are so beautiful with all the Autumn colors.
Let me show you some gorgeous ways to landscape your winter flower beds in front of house, around the house, back yard, around trees and more.
Fall is the season to plant those flower bed Spring flowers – so don’t forget to get those bulbs in the ground before the ground freezes – you Spring and Summer yard will thank you for it!
Once your soil temp is about 60 degrees or cooler (but not frozen haha!) is the best time to drop those bulbs in the ground – that’s usually about 6-8 weeks before you expect the first frost in your area.
Might sound odd, but flower bulbs actually NEED the cold weather to kickstart their beautiful blooms!
The best bulbs to plant in Fall for your Spring flower beds are (according to ol’ Google):
- Allium: Ornamental onions with globe-shaped flowers.
- Anemone: Delicate, early spring flowers that come in various colors.
- Crocus: Early blooming flowers that are a sign of spring.
- Daffodil (Narcissus): Bright, cheerful yellow flowers that return year after year.
- Fritillaria: Includes Crown Imperial Fritillaria, which has a scent that many animals dislike.
- Hyacinth: Known for their fragrant, bell-shaped flowers.
- Iris: Includes varieties like Dutch Iris and Siberian Iris.
- Lily: Hardy lilies that offer vibrant, long-lasting blooms.
- Muscari (Grape Hyacinth): Small, bell-shaped flowers that grow in clusters.
- Snowdrop (Galanthus): One of the first flowers to bloom in late winter or early spring.
- Tulip: Popular for their bright, colorful petals that appear in spring.
After those flower and plant bulbs are in the ground, then you can start to plan your winter flower beds.
Many people (including ME) have always thought there was no such things as COLORFUL plants for cold weather landscaping – but there IS… just take a look:
- Nandina
- Winter Daphne
- Euphorbia
- Coral Bark Maple
- Camellia
- Red Twig Dogwood
- Helleborus
- Photinia, and
- Coral Bells
Oh, but wait… there’s MORE colorful winter flower bed plants…
- Winterberry
- Pansies
- Snowdrop
- American Holly
- Wintercreeper
- Red Osier Dogwood
- Pine Trees
- Winter Aconite and
- Heather
All are cold-weather tolerant!
Can ALL add a lively pop of color to otherwise dormant front yard.
Flower Bed Ideas
Let’s take a look at some really pretty Fall and Winter flower beds – they’re all stunning – just be sure the ideas YOU like are appropriate for the intensity of the cold-weather season in your area!
Winter Flower Bed Tips
The best way to ensure you have a garden that looks great in winter is to give structure and shape to the space. Think of your winter plants as the skeleton, or bones, of your garden. You need to decide on these plants first and only then think about what you can plant between them for the rest of the year. Once you have planted your structural plants, you can then plant bulbs, perennials or annuals in amongst them. The structure will give you interest over the winter months and will hold everything together for the rest of the year.
Create a few “wintertime” pots with cut pine, berries or grasses added in to give a touch of color to your outdoors.
10 Beautiful Winter-Blooming Flowers to Keep Your Garden Colorful Until Spring
From easy annuals you can plant right in the ground and flowers that can withstand the temperature drop in window boxes to shrubs that begin as bulbs in the fall and surprise you in early spring, these plants are the prettiest way to add unexpected color to the season's bitterest frosts and heaviest snowfalls.
Your garden doesn't have to go completely dormant in the off-season. Despite the frozen ground and frosty nights, there are numerous blooms you can plant in the cold weather that’ll fill out your yard, but the best winter flowers will bring some much-needed life back into your landscaping.
This guide will walk you through the basics of when and how to mulch flower beds over winter and help you avoid common mulching mistakes.
With a little planning, gorgeous winter blooms will bring color and life to your garden during the coldest months of the year.
Beautiful pictures of ways to create a cozy sitting area in your yard or garden!
Absolutely gorgeous flower bed designs and layouts for every area of your yard!