The Wisconsin GardenA Wisconsin garden is a challenge. I think it's a combination of deer and snow. Why not spice up the garden year round? Plants and garden art can really make a difference in the winter.
With a bit of planning, your deer problems can be avoided.
Spring
Spring in the Wisconsin garden is full of sprouts and blooms. Your problem will be choosing just a few. If you have a mix of bulbs and shrubs that bloom, you'll have a big variety. I love seeing the tulips come up in the spring. The scent of lilacs reminds me of grandma and grandpa's farm. If you're concerned with keeping your maintenance low, try a spring bulb that you won't have to dig up in the fall. Look for packages that are marked as good for naturalizing and you can leave them for 2-5 years before you need to divide them. (A good reminder to divide: the plant will get less blooms. Plan to divide them that fall.) If you're just getting into gardening, it can be pretty scary to trim plants. A good rule of thumb is to check in early spring to see where the plant is growing from. If the plant is growing completely from the base, you know that you can trim the dead leaves from last year. Early spring is when I cut back decorative grasses. It's an important step so that new growth will get light. Just cut it off with a hedge trimmers an inch or so above ground after the snow is gone and before the new growth starts. Click here for beauties that are great in any garden. Summer
Summer's main trick is to keep the color coming. If you've planned well, you'll have flowers all summer. For those of us who love the carefree summer bloomers, I've got a few suggestions. Summer fun comes easily. Swimming pools, bike riding, hiking, fishing, grilling. Your Wisconsin garden should be planned for your lifestyle. Looking for something new to do? How about planting a tomato plant? If you plant it in a large pot, it's an easy way to get a vegetable garden without a lot of work. Kids love having their own gardens, too. If you love to garden, consider raising your garden beds with concrete block or timber retaining walls. It will bring the blooms or veggies closer to eye level and make them easier to tend. Fall
Fall is a great season, which is much too short for me. I love fall. Tree's leaves turn colors. Evenings are cooler. The late season flowers finally bloom. Fire pits get overtime. When I design for fall, I try to get a variety of colors and textures. Decorative grasses are great -- and this is the season when they look their best. The mums come out in full force. They are a great way to get a splash of color at the front door. For something a little different, try Autumn Clematis. Still stumped? Check out my list for Autumn interest in the Wisconsin garden. If you've got large urns in the garden, fall is your chance to change things up a bit. Try filling them with gourds and grasses for a different look. Winter
Year round landscaping is a different mind-set. In the winter, does your Wisconsin garden have more than just brown twigs? Don't go overboard -- you don't want only evergreens. There are also plants with berries and interesting bark and twigs. If you've neglected the frozen season, consider these plants. Carefully select your garden art. Then you'll have concrete, stone, or metal pieces that you can leave out year round. They'll still provide a special beauty in the winter. It's an added plus if you can see it from a main window. More often I'm seeing people planning for ice rinks in their yard. What a fun way to get the most out of the season! A word of caution, though. Water flows to the lowest point -- even if it's the neighbor's yard. A little research can go a long way. Don't forget evergreens. They're great in all seasons and add texture and color.
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