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Whilst we are still in the depths of winter, our gardens can often lack in colour and interest, finding the perfect winter flowering plants can be a challenge. With the weather often rather dull, our gardens are probably not always looking their best so adding some colour to brighten up your view can make the day feel brighter. We are here to help you with some careful planning to find winter flowering plants for your garden that will fit with your garden needs, giving a much-needed lift and create some winter interest. Here at Arundel Arboretum, we have an excellent selection of trees and shrubs that will provide some much-needed interest to carry you through the winter months.  Before you make your choice, you may like to think about what you would like to achieve.  Our knowledgeable team will be able to assist you. There are many winter flowering plants to consider, and you may like to give some thought to the following to help you make the right decision: – Would you like winter berries? If so, a variety of holly may be worthy of consideration. Are you looking for attractive bark? Prunus serrula, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii or Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ are contenders here Scent – winter flowering varieties of Daphne could be ideal. Colourful foliage – varieties of Hamamelis. Their spider-like flowers appear on bare branches during the winter months. Be sure to choose a winter flowering variety if winter flowers are your requirement as there are many varieties. Here are three you may like to consider: – Daphne  odora ‘Aureomarginata’ Daphne are colourful shrubs, and they usually bloom in late winter and early spring. They’re fantastic for small gardens, with various types perfect for different situations – in window boxes, large containers and mixed borders, There are evergreen and deciduous varieties. Most Daphne bear clusters of small flowers in shades of red or pink and sometimes white or green. Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ is an evergreen variety with deep green leaves and narrow, yellow margins.  Clusters of purple-red flowers appear in February and March.  These are followed by red fruits.  It is ideal for a small garden, with an eventual height and spread of 1.5m. Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ Japanese Maples are beautiful trees and shrubs, and are ideal for most gardens.  In the spring, they burst into life with their delicate foliage of reds, greens, yellows, oranges and purple.  In the autumn, you are further rewarded with spectacular autumn colours.  During the winter, some varieties have striking stems. Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ has very striking winter stems.  Also known as the Japanese Coral Bark Maple, its deeply lobed orange-yellow leaves appear in the spring.  These turn a soft yellow in the autumn.  Once the foliage has dropped, you are then rewarded with stunning stems. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ Hamamelis are commonly known as Witch Hazel.  They are recognised for their spider-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange and red.  They bring colour and fragrance to your winter garden.  They can be slow-growing, but eventually will become large, spreading shrubs or small trees. Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ is a large, deciduous, spreading shrub.  Its broad leaves turn red and yellow in the autumn.  During the winter months, it is adorned with coppery-orange flowers.  It will grow happily in full sun or partial shade.  It has an eventual height and spread of 2-4m. If you would like further help or advice on choosing winter flowering plants, why not pop in and see us?  Our knowledgeable staff will be delighted to help you.

As we delve further into winter, our gardens will still not be requiring too much attention, but of course we still want to enjoy them all the same. There are many trees and shrubs that you can consider for winter interest, and with a little careful planning, your garden can be a haven of colour and interesting structure from our deciduous trees. Points to consider for a colourful winter garden include: Attractive winter flowers – varieties of Viburnum, Hamamelis, Mahonia and Chaenomeles Striking stems – varieties of Cornus Interesting bark – Acer griseum, Prunus serrula, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii Winter seed heads – keep on the plants as long as possible. They are attractive and a food source for our birds over the winter months Evergreen foliage – particularly some conifers – for example Juniperus Skyrocket ‘Blue Arrow’ At our established tree nursery in West Sussex, we have an excellent selection of trees and shrubs to consider for your winter garden. Here are five that you might like to consider:- Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’ (Chinese Witch Hazel) Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’ is a large deciduous shrub with a spreading crown habit. Its broad, oval leaves turn a buttercup yellow in the autumn and winter. During the winter months, they will sometimes project a slight scent.  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’ can be grown in full sun or partial shade, in either a sheltered or exposed position. They have an eventual height and spread of between 2-4m. Plant in a moist, well-drained soil. Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ is a, spreading deciduous tree. Its pale pink\white flowers are a delight during the autumn and winter months. This tree will grow happily in full sun in a sheltered or exposed position.  Its eventual height and spread is 4-8m, making it an ideal candidate for a small garden. Plant in a moist, well-drained soil. Ilex aquifolium ‘J.C. van Tol Ilex aquifolium ‘J.C. van Tol is a small evergreen shrub that can also be grown as a tree. It has glossy, dark green leaves that are virtually spineless. Small white flowers appear during the spring and summer. These are followed by striking red berries during the autumn and winter months. Ilex aquifolium ‘J.C. van Tol can be grown in full sun or partial shade in an exposed or sheltered position.  It has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of approximately 2-4m. Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ is a small, evergreen shrub which again can also be grown as a tree.  It has broad, ovate dark green leaves, which are edged yellow. It can grow well in full sun, in a moist, well-drained soil. A colourful shrub all year round, with a few berries during the winter months. Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of 2-4m. Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ is a large, deciduous Japanese maple. It can be grown as a shrub or small tree. Its attractive coral-red young branches are very prominent during the winter months. It has five-lobed leaves open pinkish-yellow in the spring, turning green during the summer, before turning a soft yellow in the autumn and produces small reddish flowers. This Japanese maple can withstand full sun or partial shade in a sheltered position and should be planted in a moist, well-drained soil. It has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of 2.5-4m We also stock an excellent range of evergreen shrubs that have stunning winter colours and equally worthy of consideration. If you would like help and advice on the right plants for winter interest, why not pop along and have a chat? We are always available to advise you on the correct plants for your garden.

Once the stunning autumn colours have faded, it’s common to think a winter garden will be dull and uninteresting. However, with some careful planning, you can create a spectacular winter garden. An essential part to this is using evergreen plants, which will provide focal points and structure around your garden. These will be more noticeable during the winter months, and you could consider including evergreen topiaries such as Taxus and Ligustrum. Alternatively consider an evergreen hedge, which could be planted either to define your boundaries or to create various areas of your garden. Suitable evergreen plants could include Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’, Griselinia littoralis or even Fagus sylvatica – whilst this is not an evergreen, it does normally hold its coppery leaves, which can look stunning as a hedge in the winter sunshine. Other points to consider for your winter garden:-      Attractive winter flowers – varieties of Helleborus      Striking stem colours – varieties of Cornus      Appealing colours and textures of bark – Acer griseum and Prunus serrula      Winter seed heads – attractive and a food source for birds      Interesting skeletal formations      Evergreen foliage Winter flowering evergreen shrubs are often the most fragrant and good for encouraging wildlife into your winter garden. Evergreen shrubs to consider include:-      Mahonia x media ‘Charity’      Hellebours nigra      Hamamelis x intermedia      Leucothoe      Skimmia rubella      Viburnum bodnantense      Nandina domestica      Cornus ‘Flaviramea’ Deciduous trees should not be excluded from your winter garden. Whilst they will have lost their leaves, many trees have striking features during the winter months. These include orange-yellow berries on Malus ‘Evereste’, stunning white bark on Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, peeling bark on Acer griseum and the rich, shiny mahogany-red trunk of Prunus serrula. The silhouette of deciduous trees can also look stunning and you can appreciate the shape and structure of your trees far more during the winter months. Another consideration for your winter garden would be to plant in containers. This way, when they are less interesting at other times of the year, the containers can be moved out of the way. If you choose highly scented plants in containers, consider positioning them near your house so that you can appreciate them fully during the winter months. At Arundel Arboretum, we have a wide variety of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs to enhance any winter garden. Our friendly, knowledgeable, helpful staff is always ready to help you with any advice you may need to make the most of your winter garden. We look forward to your visit.

Whilst we are still in the middle of winter, it is lovely to see that our days are starting to lengthen – apparently by 2 minutes per day! Now is a good time to start planning your garden for the new season ahead, while also keeping on top of the usual jobs that can be done on nice dry, sunny days. Don’t forget to recycle your Christmas tree if you have not already done so. Other January gardening jobs include: Getting your greenhouse ready for the new season by giving it a good clean and cleaning all your pots and trays too Prune apple and pear trees Continue to put out food and water for birds and other wildlife Plan what trees and shrubs you would like to plant this year Continue to clear any leaves Bare root and rootball trees and shrubs can still be planted Keep your weeding under control as they are starting to appear! If you are looking for inspiration for ideas on planting trees and shrubs in your garden this year, or further help with January gardening jobs, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff are always very happy to assist with all your gardening questions.  

As we approach the end of another year, there are still jobs to keep us occupied in the garden such as digging and pruning. We are sure that everyone has felt this very cold spell recently, so why not warm up with a spot of digging? Fast approaching is the shortest day, so soon enough we can look forward to some slightly lighter evenings returning. Pruning is an important job for this time of the year, but please be sure to check the rules for when your trees and shrubs can be cut back. There are some varieties that must be pruned after they have flowered, please do check with a professional first if you are not sure. You may want to know that, yes, you can still plant and transplant your deciduous trees and shrubs, ensuring to check that you have a good rootball if you are transplanting. This will give your plant the best chance of survival. Other December gardening jobs include: Check your tree supports to make sure they are still secure Check that your greenhouse heaters are working efficiently Ensure your pond is not frozen Keep a water source for garden wildlife Keep your bird feeders topped up Consider getting your lawnmower and other garden machinery serviced to ensure it is ready for spring Continue to clear up leaves from pathways and patios to prevent a slip hazard, be sure to also remove from any grassed areas or lawns. Tidy up winter containers and remove yellow or diseased leaves If conditions allow, continue to plant including bare root and rootballed plants