Winter Gardening for the Southeast

Georgia winter garden with flowering shrubs and a large tree

When you live in the southeastern region of the United States, you experience the luxury of enjoying year-round warm weather. Although, in the winter, the temperatures certainly do dip down considerably lower than they do in the summer, spring, and fall months. While it certainly doesn’t get as chilly as other parts of the country during this time, it gets cold enough to warrant the need for special gardening techniques and planting considerations to ensure a successful landscape. Learn more about harvesting a beautiful garden, even during the coldest months of the year.

Vegetables

A bowl of fresh brussel sprouts

There are many vegetables that will grow well during the winter months. These include broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and carrots. These vegetables can sustain lower temperatures than other veggies, making them the perfect selection to add to your garden at this time of year.

Annuals

Winter annuals make for a picturesque garden during the season. These include pansies, ornamental kale, snapdragons, parsley, and even Swiss chard. These plants not only go well in a garden, but they breathe life into the landscape and many of these crops are extra rewarding once they’re harvested.

Flowers

Yellow winter jasmine flowers in bloom

There’s no need to skimp on flowers during the winter months in the southeastern states! There are quite a few varieties that bloom well, even in cooler temperatures. First, winter jasmine flowers are a great choice for winter gardens. These add a wonderful look to any garden as a vining shrub that’s trademark is bright yellow flowers. Kafir lilies are another option to add to a winter southeastern garden. Although this flower begins blooming in autumn, it will flower throughout the winter. Witch hazel is another infamous flower that will flower even in cooler temperatures, offering a beautiful winter color to complement any garden.

Snapdragons are another solid choice to consider. These flower with spikes of small flowers that add another layer of dimension to the space. Finally, petunias are a popular flower that will loom during the entirety of the winter.

Bushes

Several flowering bushes make for solid garden plants in the winter. For instance, plant camellia bushes. These are very fragrant plants, making them ideal to place close to a window so that you may open your windows during more mild days to enjoy the scent. These can grow to be tall and wide and require at least part shade, so keep this in mind. These plants can be enjoyed from fall, through the winter, and well into the spring.

Another bush to include in a winter garden is azaleas, which begin to bloom in late winter and will continue to do so into the spring months. One thing to know about this selection is that these blooms do a good job attracting pollinators to your garden.

Hedges

Shrubs in a front yard

Hedges make for a beautiful garden addition that easily thrive not only during the mild temperatures of winter, but year-round. That makes these plants a sound investment! Plus, they look great.

One variation of hedges is the Florida privet. These hedges grow as small trees, shrubs, or hedges and enjoy a spot that receives full sunlight or light shade. This is also a versatile plant that can flourish in almost any soil type.

Wax myrtle shrubs are fast growing and they boast a delightful fragrance too. These should be planted in an area with well-drained soil as well as a spot that receives partial shade and a good amount of sun.

Barberry shrubs are another selection to consider for your winter garden, especially given the fact that they provide aesthetically pleasing red, green, burgundy, and chartreuse foliage. These shrubs enjoy partial sun and do well in all soil types.