Winter can be a tough time in New Jersey when temperatures drop below freezing. However, there are still some plants out there that you can plant in your landscaping during these colder, winter months. Chris James Landscaping has put together this guide to help you with your winter planting efforts.
What Planting Zone Are You In?
It’s important to select plants that will thrive in your planting zone. New Jersey lies in both zones 6a and 6b. These zones are created with annual temperatures, snowfall, rainfall, and sunshine in mind. When selecting plants for your winter garden, select plants for zone 6.
When to Plant Winter Plants
The best time to plant winter plants for your landscaping is in the late fall. There are a few species that you’ll want to plant during the spring, as noted below. These plants will have subtle blooms from January to March. You can also add in some evergreen trees, shrubs, and plants to create a beautiful landscape. Some of our favorite cold-weather plants include chokeberry plants, Japanese Andromeda, and white pine.
How to Prepare Your Garden
Make sure you prepare your garden for your fall planting. Fall is generally a time when most prepare their garden to go dormant. However, you’ll want to do your fall clean-up and prepare your garden for new plant varieties.
First, remove leaf debris as leaf build-up can create pockets of moisture for a disease to grow. Next, trim back dead stalks from other flowers and plants. Lastly, put down a new layer of mulch after planting the flowers you’ve selected for your winter garden landscape.
Winter Plant Varieties
If you want to enjoy your garden year-round instead of having everything go dormant during the winter, then choose some plants that will bring life for your landscaping in these harsh months. Some plants that will thrive during the colder, winter months include:
1. Evergreen Camellias
These can grow up to 10 feet tall and last 100 years and some varieties have beautiful rose-like blossoms in the winter. Any variety will add color to your garden year-round.
2. Snowdrop
These are versatile and can be planted in containers, garden beds, or window boxes. They produce beautiful white blossoms during the winter.
3. Flowering Quince
This thorny shrub can be planted in either spring or fall and is nearly indestructible. It produces vibrant red flowers during the winter months for a pop of color.
4. Christmas Rose
Also known as Hellebore, you’ll want to plant this in the spring for winter blooms that come up above the snow on narrow stalks.
5. Holly
This Christmas evergreen favorite bears bright red berries along with vibrant green leaves. There’s also a deciduous version known as Winterberry that loses its leaves during the winter, leaving bright red berries on bare stalks.
6. Violet
These bulbs produce yellow, purple, orange, pink, white, and blue flowers. They typically bloom in the spring, late fall, and even into the winter months.
7. Witch Hazel
Some varieties of this shrub will produce yellow and orange blooms in January. It can spread out to 12 to 30 feet in height and 15 to 20 feet wide.
8. Winter Jasmine
This vining shrub can grow 3-4 feet high and nearly double the width. It’s beautifully planted where it can climb a trellis or hillside and adds yellow blossoms and colorful blueberries to your garden during the winter.
Our Team Can Help You Out
Chris James Landscaping is happy to help you out with your fall clean-up and winter planting. If you want a beautiful garden to enjoy all throughout the year then our team is happy to do the work for you. Give us a call today so we can get started on landscaping for your winter plants!