# Growing bright blooms in the cold months is possible! Here’s how…

- Link: https://rd2.co.nz/growing-flowers-in-winter/
- Published: 2021-07-27T04:46:13+00:00
- Author: RSF Admin

The weather is still cold, and you may be impatient to wait for your Summer flowers.
As flowers are generally associated more with Spring and Summer months, many avid
gardeners don’t consider the opportunities available in colder conditions. This 
is definitely a shame as there are plenty of colder climate planting options to 
keep your garden as vibrant as ever!

Take this as an opportunity to explore introducing new flower types and fill your
garden with bright blooms. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this is the perfect
time to prepare your garden for Spring and Summer flowers.

### **Maintaining your garden**

A good clean up will do wonders for your garden and keep it in good shape throughout
the cooler months. Perennial flowers can be kept for the next season, while it’s
better to completely remove any spent annuals which only survive one season, then
just take up room and attract unwanted pests.

Once you have culled the unwanted plants from your garden, you want to make it as
difficult as possible for insects and any other pests to invade, so clean up leaves
and debris around your remaining plants and remove any weeds you find.

To prevent the effects of frost, spread a layer of mulch a few inches thick around
your plants to insulate the soil.

Determining when to cut back perennials that bloom in warmer weather can vary between
species. Some benefit from being cut back and deadheaded (removing wilted flowers
and foliage) at the beginning of the cold season. Others are best left untouched
until the start of the next Spring. Daylilies, for example, should be pruned to 
avoid a buildup of dead foliage that may attract pests. On the other hand, chrysanthemums
should be left intact during Winter. It just depends on what flowers you have in
your garden.

### **Planting your Winter flowers**

Before you add any new plants to your garden, add our [Rootella T](https://www.rd2.co.nz/product/mycorrhizal-fungi-rootella-t-garden-20-t-bag-organic/)
formulation to the planting holes to give your floral wonders the best chance of
survival. Our Rootella products contain Mycorrhizal fungi which are the best friends
a plant could ever have. Mycorrhizal fungi grow extremely long strands that attach
to your plants’ roots and extend their reach, making it easier for them to find 
nutrients. Growing deep into the ground, this fungi also adds structure to the soil
which helps to hold nutrients close to the roots and resists erosion. You can read
more about this magical ingredient [HERE](https://rd2.co.nz/mycorrhizae-the-ultimate-crop-companion/).

There are many common ‘cold’ garden flowers to choose from to spruce up any home
garden. Here are some favourites to consider: camellias, sometimes called the ‘Rose
of Winter’, produce gorgeous flowers mainly of pink, white or red; hellebores thrive
in shaded areas, creating lovely ground cover; violas are delicate-looking but hardy
flowers that provide a splash of colour; polyanthus come in a variety of bright 
colours and can be planted in bunches to add some cheer.

For any gardeners looking to cultivate roses in time for Valentine’s Day, it’s best
to get a start towards the end of Winter/start of Spring. Planting roses bare-rooted
is best, along with our Rootella of course. This prevents them from going into shock
as they are dormant and will only resume growth when conditions are suitable. Be
careful not to overwater; just enough to ensure the soil remains moist should be
fine.

There’s plenty that can be done to keep your garden lively over colder months and
prepped for the Spring. And with our products, it’s easier than ever.

Shop our Home Garden product range here – [https://www.rd2.co.nz/product-category/home-gardening/](https://www.rd2.co.nz/product-category/home-gardening/)