Southern Gardens After the First Frost

Appreciating the aesthetics of decay as the seasons change

“ Aesthetics of decay ” might vocalize like an showing at a advanced art museum . But veteran gardener make out there is something special about how a garden repay to itself in the wintertime . In the South , this merely means that gardens lie for a second to take in their breath before boomeranging back to life story in the spring . As December morning in the garden , we arrive at the opening act of a show we need to be observant and patient to prize . Do n’t worry — outflow ephemeron will presently be under foot . For now , as the weather condition cool down , take a minute to treasure flora in their wintertime figure .

The first frost transforms the garden

As the moisture in the aura get hold of a control surface with a temperature below 32 ° fluorine , frost is form . In the South , we often have very sluttish Robert Frost in previous fall that damage our most cranky yearbook and surface our lawns with crystalline crown . These Robert Frost are the prelude to the season ’s first “ real ” frost , as it is often called . This frost is a shift in momentum , bespeak that the warm - weather grow season is over , although some gardeners may still have cool - time of year vegetables to harvest at this meter . Take a consequence on the solar day of your first real hoarfrost to appreciate the forms of plants as they give way to the cold . It can be a unfeignedly spectacular sight .

Seed heads left standing provide structure after flowers have faded

The hedgehog - like seed headspring of purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpureaand cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) flutter with activity after first frost as New World goldfinch race to clean them of every precious ejaculate . Milkweed ( Asclepiasspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) burst unresolved the drapery of their break through pods , allow their seeds to get on cooler winds . In the early part of winter when seed heads are still ever - present in the garden , pull together any stay on ejaculate that you might wish to inseminate in the leaping . But most of all , appreciate the dissimilar word form that seed heads and pod take in your garden .

Bark provides much-needed texture in a winter landscape

So much tending is paid to the glory of spring and the colors of fall that a healthy appreciation for barque may be overlook . appreciate flora for their barque is like wiretap into a gardening sense you never lie with you had . There are many fascinating plants we can grow in the South that stand out in cold month for their unique or colorful bark . After the raking is done for the year , take a walk around your garden and check that you have at least one thing in your landscape that you value for this reason . The ubiquitous crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) is a great station to start . Other great standouts include kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa , zone 5–8 ) , paperbark maple ( Acer griseum , Zones 4–8 ) , smooth cypress tree ( Cupressus arizonicavar.glabra , Zones 7–9 ) , Japanese cornel dogwood tree ( Cornus officinalis , zone 5–8 ) , and FOX vale ® dwarf river birch ( Betula nigra‘Little King ’ , Zones 4–9 ) .

Grasses look gorgeous covered in snow or ice

crepuscule is prime meter for cosmetic grasses . However , as colder weather condition access there is still a theatrical role for forage in the garden . They continue to provide movement and construction in the landscape . Do n’t be too ready to cut back these beauties . good insects , birds , and others may be taking tax shelter among their plume . to boot , most ornamental eatage are warm - time of year grasses , and avoiding cutting them back is a way to leave winter protection . footling bluestem ( Schizachyium scoparium , Zones 3–9 ) , which brightly catch the lightest oddball of snow on its seed heads , has always been one of my winter darling .

( For more entropy on Grass in the South , see myprevious regional theme . )

Look out the window and plan ahead

Many gardeners spend an tremendous amount of energy vex about what their garden looks like from the curbing . When the cold readiness in , take stock of your garden , but not just from the curb to the front room access . take hold of a warm drink , and peer out from your national windows . How many interesting thing do you see ? Contemplate what suits your style , and perhaps comprise something unexampled into your wintertime garden .

— Andy Pulte is a module member in the industrial plant sciences department at the University of Tennessee .

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burst stems

Sometimes when stems are still full of moisture they can burst during sudden freezes, providing a stunning effect.Photo: Andy Pulte

giant elephant’s ear

Frost shines in sunlight on the leaves of this giant elephant’s ear (Colocasia gigantea‘Thailand Giant Strain,’ Zones 8–10).Photo: Jason Reeves

Seed heads

Seed heads of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca, Zones 3–9) and purple coneflower provide nutrition to scavenging animals.Photos: Andy Pulte (left); Kristin Green (right)

paperback maple