{"id":44131,"date":"2022-09-12T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/?p=44131"},"modified":"2023-01-01T15:28:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-01T21:28:17","slug":"fall-planting-for-winter-interest-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platthillnursery.com\/fall-planting-for-winter-interest-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Top Picks for Fall Planting and Winter Interest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first snow of the year is always an exciting day, but by February, we\u2019re all pretty tired of staring out the window at a plain white landscape. Luckily, with some strategic planting in fall, you can be sure your garden never lacks color and texture\u2014even when it\u2019s covered in a blanket of snow!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fall Planting to Bring Visual Interest to the Winter Landscape<\/b><\/h2>\n

All sorts of beautiful plants hold their color and shape throughout the winter<\/a>. You\u2019re probably well-acquainted with <\/span>evergreen conifer trees<\/span><\/a><\/span>, but there\u2019s plenty more to choose from beyond that! Here are our five top picks for fall planting so your landscape is lush and full of life, even in the bleak midwinter.
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\"\"Photo credit: <\/span><\/i>NPS Plant Finder<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span>
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Wintercreeper<\/b><\/h3>\n

Wintercreeper is a fascinating broadleaf evergreen that can be grown as a shrub or a <\/span>creeping groundcover<\/span><\/a><\/span>. If you grow it flat across the ground, it may get covered in snow, but if you try planting it near a wall, fence, or lattice structure, allowing it to creep and climb, you can enjoy that gorgeous greenery all year!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Purpleleaf wintercreeper is especially popular for winter interest\u2014its dark green leaves develop a rich, reddish-plum color that lasts all through the winter<\/a><\/span>! Other varieties like Moonshadow and Gold Splash have beautiful variegated leaves, bringing fabulous dimension and color to the scenery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper<\/b><\/h3>\n

A stunning needled evergreen often grown in a <\/span>bonsai style<\/span><\/a><\/span>, the dwarf Japanese garden juniper has attractive, lush foliage that\u2019s easy to prune into stylized shapes. It\u2019s great for fall planting because it has emerald needles that take on a purple flush as the temperatures drop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grow it as a ground cover by planting it at the top of a slope and allowing its branches to sprawl outward, or <\/span>train it with stakes<\/span><\/span><\/a> into an upright tree form. As a ground cover, it reaches about 12 inches high and spreads 6 feet across, but trained tree forms can reach 2\u20134 feet in height.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"scallywagPhoto credit: <\/span><\/i>NPS Plant Finder<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Scallywag Holly<\/b><\/h3>\n

This hardy holly doesn\u2019t produce berries like the classic varieties you see at Christmastime. However, its gorgeous foliage makes it a worthy contender for fall planting! Its serrated, glossy green leaves have subtle pink and red borders that intensify through fall and winter, adding plenty of color and texture to the landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scallywag holly reaches a modest size of 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with a lush density that makes it ideal for small yards and foundation planting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"redRed Twig Dogwood<\/b><\/h3>\n

Most dogwood varieties are chosen for their beautiful spring blooms, but the Red Twig dogwood is heralded for its striking red branches. You\u2019ll love the bold contrast of bright crimson against a snowy landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fall planting is perfect for shrubs like dogwood because the soil is cool and mild, so you won\u2019t run the risk of shocking their roots from a sudden spike in temperature. It does best in partial shade, so an East-facing garden or some dappled shade underneath a tree canopy would be splendid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"orrnamentalOrnamental Grasses<\/b><\/h3>\n

These lovely plants don\u2019t get nearly enough credit! Their slender, breezy blades add movement and dimension to the landscape, and when in bloom, their feathery tufts offer gorgeous texture. Foliage typically takes on a new, vibrant shade for fall\u2014ornamental grasses can display brilliant shades of purples, golds, reds, and silvers, depending on your chosen variety. Although the grass will turn wheat or brown in the winter, there\u2019s no need to cut them back if you want to keep some texture in your landscape; they\u2019ll continue to flutter in the wind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of our favorite perennial <\/span>ornamental grasses<\/span><\/a><\/span> for Illinois include:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n