Guest post by Shannon Quantock

Keeping your garden maintained every season is one of the keys to making it last as long as possible. In the winter, the majority of plants are usually pretty dormant if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, which makes it the perfect time for you to plan a new design. Let’s have a look at a few reasons why planning your garden design in the winter is a great idea.

1) You can see everything clearly

In the warmer months, your garden will likely be flourishing and blooming at its peak while the fall means plants have started to naturally wilt away and prepare for the winter. When you’ve finally reached winter you’re able to see your plants without leaves or flowers, which makes it much easier to see how much space they’re taking up in your garden.

You’ll also be able to assess what will have to be replaced or fixed before you need to plant. If you have a flowerbed that needs to be repaired or a greenhouse that needs to be cleaned, work on it in the winter so you’re able to have it ready to go in the spring or summer.

This is also the perfect time to give your yard a good cleaning by pruning any unwanted bushes or shrubs and removing any unwanted invasive plants. Giving your yard a good clean will help you prepare for the summer, plus you’ll be able to see everything much better, which will help you when it comes to planning.

2) You can plan

Winter months will mean less time in your garden, so if you want to keep the garden foremost in your mind, this is the perfect time to sit down and plan it out once and for all. Take stock of what’s already in your garden and think about the things you’d like to add.

It’s a good idea to draw the garden out on a piece of paper to give yourself a visual guidepost. There are even apps and websites that will allow you to input the dimensions of your yard so you can get a feel for how plants would look in specific areas. When you’re not worried about what’s currently growing, you’re able to focus more on what you’d like your garden to become.

If there are any major changes you want to make, this is the best time to see what is needed to complete the task. If you’ve always wanted to remove that dead tree or turn a flower bed into an herb garden, then winter is a great time to prepare.

3) There’s no lineup

If you decide to hire a professional to do a garden overhaul, hiring them in the wintertime has many benefits. They are likely going to be far less busy in the winter, and they might even have a lower rate.

Another thing you might need to consider is local zoning laws. If you plan on moving large trees or doing any major digging, it’s best to check before you dig. If your work requires any permits, it will be much easier to acquire them when local officials aren't as busy. The summer months are usually chock full of people with different requests, so your permits should be looked at much faster at this time of year.

This is also prime time to order anything extra you’re looking to buy for your garden in the warmer months such as lights, accessories, and supplies. Prices will be much higher and the demand will be much greater in the spring and summer. Buying everything you need in the winter months and storing it will save you money and help you stick to your original plan.

4) You can do your research

Whether you’re growing flowers, landscaped plants or food crops, planning everything out will maximize your space, time and money. By researching which plants you want to include, you’re able to figure out what will work together and what will need to be separated.

It’s a good idea to plan out the garden for the entire year at one time. This will allow you to use the soil to its full potential and make sure the nutrients don’t become depleted. There are many different books, blogs and YouTube videos that can give you great advice if you’re stuck on what to grow next.

Another great way to figure out what will grow in your area is to talk to an expert at your local garden center. They can direct you to what sells the most and give you experienced advice on what types of plants tend to flourish in the climate you’re in.

5) You can get ahead of yourself

Some garden projects, such as forcing bulbs, can be done successfully inside in the winter months, which will give you a head start on planting for the summer. Forcing bulbs requires you to place your bulbs in water to trick them into growing early. It can be done with many different flower bulbs, including tulips, Dutch crocus, and daffodils. You’ll also need to chill the bulbs to stop their growth which means you’re able to use the cold temperatures to your advantage.

If you already have some plants growing before your garden gets up and running again then you’ll be ahead of your planting season. Growing your plants from a bulb will likely save you some time and money in the upcoming season.

6) You can avoid costly mistakes

There have been plenty of gardening trends that have come up in the last few years thanks to social media. Some of these are practical and helpful but some are just there to look nice without providing any function.

Avoid getting sucked into trends that might leave you wasting precious time and money on a gardening hack that doesn’t make things much easier. If you think the trend might suit your wants and needs, then playing around with it in the winter will give you more time in the spring and summer to tend to your garden's needs.

7) You can have some fun with it

Switching plants in your garden around when they’re in full bloom is a recipe for disaster when it comes to certain plants. In the more dormant months, some flowers can be transported with very little trauma to their systems. This is also true for trees, so if you want to uproot anything and find a better spot, now is the time.

Stick your uprooted plant in a bucket to keep the root ball intact and try it out in a few different spots. This is best done at the beginning or end of the winter months to avoid digging while the ground is still frozen.

If you want to take some time out of your year to plan out your garden then the best time is going to be winter. You can focus on tending to your new plants all summer, so take some time in the colder months to make sure your garden is going to be exactly what you want.

Veronica Grecu is an online real estate journalist, copywriter and blogger who has a passion for social media, believes in the rebirth of Detroit and loves coffee, cheesecake and everything Depeche Mode.