Gardeners Who Dig Their Extremely Cold Climates (22 photos)

3. Safety. Ensure that paths and walkways used frequently are planned with care, using materials that provide a good grip and are easy to maintain. Granite, for example, is dense and, unlike sandstone, doesn’t absorb water, which could cause it to crack. Granite can have a rough texture that provides a good grip in summer and winter.

Plan the main access to be wide enough to feel comfortable and safe. A handrail may be needed for steep stairs, and solid stone used for the majority of access places. Any water should be led away from these areas to prevent ice formation.

4. A palette of plants. Winter gardens can have an amazing array of colors, but the palette is different from what we see in summer. Using a mix of evergreen plants in dark greens, sliver grays and lime tones, combined with interesting barks and pale perennials and grasses, can make any winter garden just as glorious as in summer.

Varieties of Calamagrostis, such as C. ‘Karl Foerster’ and C. acutiflora ‘Overdam’ are wonderful grasses in winter. Perennials such as Achillea and Echinacea keep their strongly architectural flower heads for a long time. Evergreen plants Helleborus, Buxus and Pinus are worth considering.

from Houzz http://ift.tt/2dkerz8

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