The best bird nettings to protect your garden

The outdoors in winter can seem bleak and barren, but there are actually many plants that still thrive in the snow! In addition to early blooming flowers and winter vegetables, there are many types of evergreens. If planting different types of pine tree isn’t your idea of a good time, then consider planting some winterberry trees instead. This lovely tree is great for most types of gardens and can provide color and interest to your winter garden. Want to get started growing your own winterberry tree? Here’s everything you need to know in order to successfully care for your winterberry.
What are winterberries?

A winterberry tree is a small tree or shrub in the holly family. Ilex verticillata is the botanical name, but it's typically easy to find under the common name winterberry. True to its name, this shrub produces red or orange berries in late fall and winter. Although it is a type of holly, it doesn't have the glossy, spined leaves characteristic of English holly. Instead, it has long, oval leaves that are a lighter shade of green and don't spines. These plants are also dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers appear on different plants. That means if you want to see berries, you'll need at least two winterberry trees.

If you grow a lot of warm-season annuals, then your garden might be empty during winter. This can have some unfortunate side effects, which is why we recommend planting a cover crop. Cover crops have a number of benefits depending on which one you choose, ranging from replenishing the soil and preventing erosion to simply stopping your garden from looking quite so empty.

Winter rye is an excellent cover crop with plenty of benefits. This guide to growing winter rye will explain everything you need to know about what those benefits are and how to grow your own!
What are the benefits and downsides of winter rye?

If the long, cold months of winter have left your garden looking cold and empty, it might be time to start planning your spring garden. There are a number of early-blooming spring flowers you can choose from, including classics like tulips and daffodils. If you want something a bit larger than your standard bulbs, you should consider planting winter jasmine. Not familiar with this plant? Don’t worry, we’ll answer all your questions about winter jasmine care so you can get started growing your own.
What is winter jasmine?

Winter jasmine, or Jasminum nudiflorum, is a shrub with thin, vine-like branches and bright yellow flowers. In its native habitat of China, it's among the earliest blooming shrubs, blooming right at the end of winter and beginning of spring. In the U.S., it can actually bloom even earlier, sometimes beginning in November, if the weather stays mild. However, it most commonly begins blooming in January or February, typically continuing until March.