Winter Interest in the Snowbelt

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Posted by @chelle on
Creating winter interest and a pleasant view once your prized evergreen shrubs are buried for the duration, and after your brightly colored berries have been consumed by wildlife, can be done, but think hip-height or higher, and plan for more than one focal point.

So, you've studied, researched, chosen, and lovingly placed plants to create winter interest in your garden, and this works out just fine, up to a point: Said point being that when you live and garden in the snowbelt, well, snow happens, and once it gets going it never seems to stop! Once you realize that your favorite winter interest bloomers will end up buried year after year, what can you do? The following are a few tips that I'd like to pass along to you.

Think above the hip. Hip-height or higher plants, garden ornaments and structures will be in viewing range even after the snow is at its deepest point. Very tall evergreen shrubs and trees, such as arborvitae and spruce, are definitely nice when shade parameters and space allow, but what if they don't? Multipurpose hardscape items like arbors, fences, bridges, and summer seating areas can assume pride of place in the depths of winter, along with taller species of ornamental grasses and shaggy barked trees such as birches, maples, and others.
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Colors for hardscape items can be chosen to mimic shades and tones that blend well with the taller winter plants in your garden theme, or they can be left a natural hue. The choice is up to you. Darker items really pack a punch when the world as we know it is covered in white, but natural colors fit well with everything, and they're very easy to work with when you are rearranging garden themes. Group your single color items together for a strong and flowing aspect. Toss in another color grouping if desired, either to each side of a main structural focal point, or centrally spaced in front or behind. A single item might look a bit stark and lonely, so whenever possible, you should design with others in mind.
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Clumps of taller ornamental grasses can be planted in large pots and sunk into the ground to add interest as well, but keep in mind that staggered groupings can have a higher impact than one by itself. One clump standing alone tends to blend in with the surrounding white, whereas a foreground group followed by a distant group will catch and hold the eye, and will draw vision outward to what lies beyond.
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Another tip to follow when you are thinking in multiples is to plan more than one grouping of taller plants, just in case a set fails to deliver for one reason or another. In the image on the left (below), there's actually a huge double stand of mature ornamental grasses that would normally knock your socks off in winter, but this year they've succumbed to the snow, have collapsed, and are lost to view.
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Finally, when all else has become tired and worn, the beautiful birds can still be a saving grace in the snow-blasted landscape. Feed your birds.
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Okay, but what if you haven't yet acquired a resident flock? The following tips can help!

It's not always enough to toss out some seed in the middle of winter and walk away, thinking the job has been done. Birds aren't traveling much at this time of year and will stay put if there's a plentiful supply of food and unfrozen water. They're unlikely to find your food before it spoils. Choose instead to start your bird feeding program during a time of migration into or out of your area. Your local birds will see the activity of the migratory species at your feeders and come in to see what's what, and after that it's just a matter of maintenance.

Maintenance is the single most critical factor in your backyard birding endeavors! Forethought and planning are second, but not by much.

Where will you feed?
Feed in open areas. Your cute little backyard birds are creatures of habit, but so are raptors and other predators. Songbirds will learn your feeding schedule, but so will the creatures that hunt them. Open sight-lines will give your birds ample time to reach safety when a hawk or the neighbor's cat invades your yard.

Where shouldn't you feed?
In your garden beds! Those of us who have done this have paid the piper for doing so, with a multitude of unwanted seedlings that appear and need pulling year after year. Choose instead sections of your yard that are mowed regularly, where it's easier to keep those unwanted seedlings under control.


What should you feed?
Feed should be chosen for the types of birds that are common in your area year-round first, followed by periodic additions of suet for the fulfillment of higher stress-induced caloric needs during frigid weather, and finally, the addition of any favorite types of food for migratory species that are exceptionally desirable. All-round good, everyday choices might be a mixed feed labeled for finch and black-oil sunflower seeds that are loved by many.

What shouldn't you feed?
Those really inexpensive bags of mixed, mostly roundish seeds labeled for all backyard birds. They're left mostly uneaten, and are an unnecessary strain on both your back and your pocketbook. Choose instead a middle-price-range feed that's usually packaged in a smaller-sized bag. It's worth it in the long run.

When will you feed?
It's very important to feed your flock on a regular schedule. Pick one that works for you and stay with it. Your birds will arrive promptly as the designated times approach. Feed lighter amounts in autumn and heading into spring. Your birds will leave food uneaten to rot if they're feeding directly from the garden.

When shouldn't you feed?
Once bugs have appeared on the scene in spring, it's a good idea to taper off the bagged seed supply. The reasons for this are threefold. One, birds need variety just as we do, and bugs and mini-greens help to balance their diet. Two, it's a waste of resources. Save the price of the seed toward a time when they actually need to have their diet supplemented. Three, there is the nuisance wildlife element. Once the bugs are out and about, the raccoons, opossums, chipmunks, and others will also be out and foraging for food. They'll be hungry and will look to your feeders for easy sustenance, and you must keep in mind that they're creatures of habit too.


How will you supply water?
Clean water for your birds is necessary year-round. Water stations can be set up within garden areas, but they're easier to maintain if they're near an edge or situated along a pathway. An easy to clean and inexpensive choice for wintertime is an electrically heated dog bowl. One of these will last for years if it isn't allowed to run dry. The addition of a rock or brick to the bowl will provide stable footing for your feathered friends and will reduce the likelihood of birds attempting to bathe in frigid weather.

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These aren't the most visually appealing of watering setups, so changing them out for something else during the summer months will keep your garden looking pleasant and attractive. I find it difficult to keep standard birdbaths cleaned and filled, so I set up a small water feature or two instead. A fountain pump chosen for the size of your reservoir can be used to continuously circulate the water and render it unusable for mosquito breeding. Infrequent cleaning of the pump filter is usually all that is required to keep this setup functioning well.


Snowbelt winters are rough and they seem to last forever, but with a bit of help your gardens need not be just a swath of white. Add color and movement with bird-keeping, height and interesting shapes with taller ornamental grasses and trees, and stature with hardscaping focal points for all-winter enjoyment.

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Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Great article! by vic Feb 16, 2015 7:27 PM 9
Water for birds by lovesblooms Feb 16, 2015 2:33 PM 2

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