Does your garden lack pizzazz during the leafless season? Pep it up with a few well-placed trees and shrubs chosen for their colorful bark, evergreen foliage and attractive habit. Why not create a serene seating area at the end of the garden, perhaps overlooking a lawn or even a pond or other feature? The bench shown is 5 feet long. The planting beds are backed by a 7-foot-tall fence, hedge or wall, which provides protection from the wind. We've chosen plants that are easy to grow and hardy in Zones 5 to 9. They were selected to give four-season interest; for additional color underplant with spring-flowering bulbs and interplant with summer-blooming annuals. Select an open site that gets full sun for at least part of the day, ideally with well-drained and fertile soil. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter, such as compost or rotted leaves, during preparation.
Key to Plan
1. Scarlet willow (Salix alba 'Britzensis') 1 plant trained as a standard and kept pruned to 6 to 10 feet tall; bright red bark on upright young stems; male "pussy willow" catkins followed by bright green slender foliage; prune out a third of the older stems to the main branches each spring to maintain good shape and force young growth with vibrant bark color.
2. Harry Lauder's walking stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') 1 plant slowly reaching 8 feet tall; curly branches; male "lamb's tail" catkins followed by twisted foliage; no pruning necessary.
3. Golden willow (Salix alba 'Vitellina') 1 plant grown as a shrub; 6 feet tall; bright egg-yolk yellow stems; prune a third of the old stems to the ground each spring to encourage new stems, as these have the brightest bark color.
4. Siberian dogwood (Cornus alba 'Sibirica') 1 plant grown as a shrub; 6 to 7 feet tall; bright coral red bark, especially on the young growth; prune a third of the old stems to the ground each spring to encourage new shoots.
5. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei 'Ivory Jade') 4 plants planted singly; 2 feet tall with spreading habit; evergreen; rounded bright green foliage edged with ivory, which tinges pink in cold weather; allow to spread around other shrubs; pruning necessary only to control excessive growth.
6. Setterwort (Helleborus foetidus) 2 groups of 3 plants each, planted 18 inches apart; 1 1⁄2 to 2 feet tall; evergreen deeply fingered leaves; clusters of apple green winter buds and flowers throughout the winter and spring; self sows freely; best in shade. Poisonous.
7. White deadnettle (Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy') 5 plants planted 15 inches apart; 10 inches tall; evergreen, silver leaves edged in fresh green; small white flowers that bloom mostly in spring; fills in quickly as a great ground cover.
Garden plans courtesy of Country Living Gardener.
Illustrations by Michelle Burchard
