However, thanks to some particularly hardy plants, even the depths of winter can see you getting green-fingered in the garden.
Mark Lane, a gardening expert at Stannah, believes gardeners are actually “spoiled for choice” for options to brighten yards during the year’s coldest months.
He told Newsweek: “You may think of winter gardens as being bland, boring and gray but with some key planting in early December (providing the ground is not frozen or waterlogged) or earlier in the autumn, you can have a colorful and scented winter wonderland.”
Sarah Emanuel-Holder of Pot Luck Planters suggests two methods of giving plants added to a garden in winter the very best chance of survival.
She said: “My first tip is to place the planter beside a wall, as this offers much-needed protection from inclement weather.
“The second tip is to water them daily (unless it rains of course) and ensure there is an adequate drainage hole to empty excess water.”
Read on to discover the perennials, shrubs and flowers at their finest in the cold months.
1. Snowdrops
The National Garden Scheme describes snowdrops as “the hardiest and among the earliest of winter blooms.”
A spokesperson tells Newsweek: “These seemingly delicate little flowers are tough as tigers, forcing their way up through the frozen earth to lift their heads to the light.
“They can do this because snowdrops actually have built-in antifreeze along with reinforced tips to their leaves that allow them to break through the frozen ground and flower even in sub-zero temperatures.”
2. Winter Honeysuckle
Mark Lane says scented shrubs are an excellent choice for injecting a touch of drama and color into an otherwise dreary garden.
He says: “When it comes to scented shrubs, you are spoilt for choice. The Lonicera fragrantissima, will flower from December to March and produces fragrant, creamy-white flowers before the leaves appear.
“Plant it close to an entrance or pathway so that you can catch its lingering scent each time you pass.”
3. Sweet Box
The sweet box, also known as Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna, produces clusters of small creamy-white flowers and dark green leaves.
Lane says: “The strong scent is vanilla-like and is one of the headiest winter fragrances. This too will flower from December to March.”
4. Wintersweet
Chimonanthus praecox is described as having “sulfur-yellow flowers flushed with purple inside from December to February.”
Lane adds: “The sweetly scented flowers make this a great shrub to take cuttings from for an indoor bouquet.”
5. Daphne Odora
The Winter Daphne is a popular shrub for planting in the depths of winter as the evergreen boasts “small, scented pale pink blooms” flowering from January to March.
6. Eastern Sowbread
Lane says: “For carpets of scented, colorful flowers in your garden, you cannot beat Cyclamen coum, providing delicate pink flowers from December to April.
“I love getting my nose down low just to sniff their slight fragrance. These are perfect for a woodland setting around the bases of trees and in open lawns.”
7. Midwinter Fire
Lane recommends pairing the Bloody Dogweed next to another scented shrub for maximum impact in your garden this winter.
He says: “For a burst of color, grow Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ with fiery orange, red and yellow stems next to Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ with its bright green stems.
“Two shrubs to bring colorful impact to your winter outdoor space.”
