Creating year-round interest in your garden

A beautiful garden isn’t just about color and fragrance in the spring or summer — it’s about creating a landscape that offers interest and beauty year-round. Trees can be the stars of your garden, providing a constant source of interest throughout the seasons. With careful planning, you can select trees that offer points of interest that change as the months pass.

Here’s how you can create a garden that shines in every season, with trees that offer something special year-round.

Winter wonders: standout trees for the cold months

Winter might seem like a time when your garden is sleeping, but it's actually one of the best seasons to highlight trees with unique characteristics. As many plants go dormant, the bare branches and bark of trees can create a striking effect.

Trees with decorative bark

Trees with striking bark are especially eye-catching during winter. Whether smooth or textured, colored or patterned, the right tree can be a winter highlight.

• Interesting winter bark:
  • Silver Birch (Betula varieties)
  • Red/yellow stemmed Dogwood (Cornus Sibirica)
  • Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
  • Red-stemmed Maple (Acer senkaki)

Trees with berries and fruit

Some trees hold onto their berries even after the leaves have fallen, providing both a beautiful winter display and a valuable food source for birds. These trees are especially useful in winter when many plants are bare.

• Interesting winter fruit and berries:
  • Crabapples
  • Persimmons
  • Hawthorn (Crataegus)

Spring: the magic of blossom and fresh new growth

Spring is the season that most people associate with flowers, and for good reason. Trees bursting into bloom are a gorgeous sight after the long winter months. To extend your bloom time, you can plant different species or varieties that flower at slightly different times.

Early Bloomers

• Magnolias
• Flowering Cherries
• Dogwoods

Late Spring and Summer Blooms

For longer-lasting color, consider trees that flower in late spring or summer. These are often a little more subtle but still provide interest throughout the warmer months.

• Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
• Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
• Calycanthus 'Hartlage Wine’

Fragrant Trees

In addition to their beauty, many trees offer delicious fragrances in the spring and summer.

• Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)
• Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
• Lilac (Syringa)

Summer: subtle beauty and structural drama

In summer, leaves take center stage. The lush green canopy can provide a dramatic backdrop, but some trees stand out because of their unique textures, shapes, and sizes.

The drama of tree formDon't underestimate the power of a striking tree shape. Whether it’s a weeping tree or one with a strong vertical presence, these trees can create a dramatic focal point in your garden.

• Year-round structural trees:
  • Wedding Cake Tree (Cornus controversa variegata)
  • Robinia Lace Lady
  • Weeping Maples
  • Flowering Cherries

Dwarf trees for impact

Dwarf trees are a fantastic option for small gardens or for creating a unique, scaled-down version of a larger tree's beauty.

• Dwarf stone fruit trees for spring blossom and summer fruit
• Ginkgo Ming Princess
• Miniature Japanese Maples

Autumn: farewell to the growing season

As the weather cools, many trees put on a spectacular show of autumn color. Maples, oaks, and other trees can turn stunning shades of red, gold, and orange.

Autumn color showstoppers

If you live in a climate where fall color is prominent, the right tree can turn your garden into a vision of colour.

• Maples
• Liquidambar
• Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree)
• Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

Year-round interest: the importance of planning

To create a garden that looks great all year long, it’s essential to plan with an eye toward seasonal interest. From the striking bark and branches of winter to the colorful flowers, fruits and foliage of spring, summer and autumn, there’s always something to enjoy if you choose your trees wisely.

Consider the unique features of trees like blossom time, fruit-bearing, bark color, leaf texture, and tree shape when making your choice. Remember, it’s not just about filling your space — it’s about making sure there's always something to catch your eye, no matter the season.

Written for Gubba by Kelly Jean Reyland from Garden Advice NZ (www.gardenadvice.co.nz)