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Winter Garden

Traditional

Topiary in the snow

Topiary is very effective in a winter garden. The shapes look magnificent under a white covering of snow. The wirework structures, often used to create topiaries, can look good in their own right. Try this eagle, priced £190, by Steve Manning of Topiary Art Designs, or his gorgeous lion - both just part of the huge range of animal shapes available. Visit or call on (01359) 251006.

Frosty grass

Besides structure, you also need strong shape and colour. Some of the best plants for shape are grasses since when densely clumped together grasses provide a bold form that stands out. They also look marvellous in frosts and snow. Try one of the many varieties available from Manor Nurseries.

Terrific trees

Trees are spectacular in the winter months, since many have fantastic shape and structure when their leaves have gone. Try the Betula utilis var Jacquemontii - also known as the Silver Birch.

Others have extraordinary colour, like the Acer palmatum 'Senkaki' or Japanese maple, priced from £43 for a specimen 60-90cm (24-35in) high from Crocus. Its bark turns a brilliant red in the winter, and its leaves put on a marvellous show for the rest of the year as they change colour in the autumn. This acer is ideal for most modern gardens, as it rarely exceeds 20 feet (6m) in height.

Or get winter colour from deciduous plants like the Cornus 'alba' or dogwood whose red stems provide a lovely contrast to the white stems of Rubus cockburnianus. Burncoose Nurseries sell both these plants (£5.25 and £6 respectively). Visit or telephone (01209) 860316.

Merry berries

Berries are another way to get winter colour. The shiny green-leaved Skimmia japonica 'Redruth' (£9.95 from Crocus) has clusters of red berries that will last through the winter. In summer, it's a wonderful shrub for a shady corner, with its clusters of white flowers. Or try the Aucuba japonica or spotted laurel, which also has beautiful dark green leaves and scarlet berries through the winter months. The Aucuba needs a male and female plant to produce berries.