When the deciduous leaves have fallen and frost has swept away the remaining flowers, winter structure in our gardens takes on an important role….
Winter structure in the garden can refer to many things. Plants, terraces, paths, lawns, steps, pots, a summerhouse, a garden shed and of course the wider landscape….they all paint a picture as we look out of the window on a winters day.
The fabulous, low espalier in the main picture above is a weeping blue atlas cedar – Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’
Clipped Evergreens For Winter Stucture
Here, I’m looking (mostly) at evergreens, many of which are clipped. Two fabulously versatile plants for summer and winter structure are Taxus baccata (Yew) and Buxus sempervirens (Box). They lend themselves so well to the art of topiary, making them ubiquitous throughout European gardens. Here, I have chosen some of my favourite British gardens in which to showcase them…..

CLIPPED YEW PYRAMIDS AND BOX BALLS. SUMMER IN WOLLERTON OLD HALL

CLIPPED YEW PYRAMIDS AND BOX BALLS. WINTER IN WOLLERTON OLD HALL

PYRACANTHA COCCINEA IN ESPALIER FORM AT YORK GATE IN LEEDS

THE FRESH NEW LIME GREEN LEAVES OF THESE PARTICULAR BOX BALLS (A VARIETY FOR WHICH I DON’T HAVE A NAME) – LIGHT UP A SHADEY SPACE AT YORK GATE IN LEEDS. THE DARK YEW SPIRALS AND HEDGING ADD DRAMA AND CONTRAST IN COLOUR AND FORM.

A QUIET SUMMER SEAT IN FRONT OF PURPLE BEECH HEDGE, LIME LEAFED BOX AND VARIOUS CONIFERS. THIS PICTURE WILL HAVE SIMILAR IMPACT IN WINTER WITH THE BEECH TURNING BROWN AND THE BOX DARKENING. ONLY THE TREE ON THE LEFT OF THE PICTURE WILL LOOSE ITS LEAVES. YORK GATE IN LEEDS.

HUGE DOMES OF CLIPPED BOX SET IN A LAWN AT WOLLERTON OLD HALL

A BEAUTIFULLY MOWN LAWN – FLANKED BY DOMED CLIPPED YEWS – AT BROUGHTON GRANGE….. MINUS THE STRIPES IN WINTER !

CLIPPED BOX EITHER SIDE OF THE ORNAMENTAL POND AT WOLLERTON OLD HALL…. OF COURSE THE ORNAMENTAL POND PROVIDES A FABULOUS WINTER STRUCTURE.

A GREAT IDEA FOR A SHADY BED ON A NORTH FACING HOUSE WALL – WHERE NOTHING WANTS TO GROW. CLIPPED BOX- CHATEAU DE HAUFORTE DORDOGNE.
Trees, Shrubs and Ground Cover For Winter Structure
Coloured trees barks and undulating ground cover come into their own in winter. Without summer’s leaf cover and showy flowering plants, the skeletal structure of the trees are revealed.
And evergreen ground cover plants such winter flowering heather become a showy winter attraction. Here are some of my favourites…..

HERE IN THE LOVELY WINTER GARDEN AT ANGLESEY ABBEY THE WHITE BARK OF BETULA UTILIS JACQUEMONTII DAZZLES.

THE NEW GROWTH OF CORNUS ALBA SIBIRICA IS BRILLIANT RED IN WINTER. ANGLESEY ABBEY HAS A WONDERFUL WINTER GARDEN FULL OF COLOUR AND TEXTURE. EUONYMOUS FORTUNEI IN THE FOREGROUND.

LOVELY SHINY RED BARK OF PRUNUS SERRULA AT ANGLESLEY ABBEY

SUMMER PICTURE OF ERICA CARNEA ‘GOLDEN STARLET’ (LIME COLOUR) AND ERICA X DARLEYSENSIS – SUPERB WINTER FLOWERING HEATHERS AT RHS ROSEMOOR.

PACHYSANDRA TERMINALIS – THE KING OF GROUND COVERS AT RHS ROSEMOOR
Most of these design ideas for winter structure (with one or two exceptions) are perfectly achievable…..
Why not visit one or two of the gardens….I promise you won’t be disappointed !
So whilst you’re sitting by the fire on a cold winter’s day, look out of the window and think about what you might like to achieve in your garden.
Take a look at my blog on Clipping Box Topiary
And some of the gardens featured here…..