Just a few decades ago, the withered seedheads of perennial flowers were regarded as an ugly nuisance to be cut away and composted as soon as possible.

Left behind were bare-looking beds dotted with little domes of cut stems. But as the trend towards natural gardening continues to increase, all of the seasons of herbaceous plants’ beauty are being better appreciated – from fresh young shoots in spring, lush leaves in summer to colouring leaves in autumn, and withered stems and foliage in winter.

The increase in use of prairie-style borders has greatly influenced this change. Prairie planting is a cultivated version of a natural grassland habitat, mainly using North American plants, but plants from steppe grassland in other parts of the world too.

It is a feature of prairie plants that they generally produce quite robust flower stems to be able to resist open, windy, grassland conditions. After flowering, these stems have a role in seed dispersal, the seeds being shaken out of the seedpods on to the ground nearby. Grasses are also mostly prairie plants and many sorts have become very popular for use in prairie-style planting. These, too, generally have robust seedheads and often the foliage lasts.

However, it is not only prairie-style plantings that should have seedheads retained. Most flower borders have some plants with good seed heads. If plants do not have stiff stems, such as hostas and geraniums, the soft stems and foliage can be left to fall on to the soil surface and will be largely, or completely, rotted away by spring. If you do not like the sight of them all winter, they can be removed. Left in place, the more robust stems have their most beautiful season when morning frost sprinkles a dusting of white ice crystals.

There are lots of herbaceous plants that offer good winter stems, each kind having its own distinctive structure. Veronicastrum is tall with narrow branching stems. Solidago has conical, light seedheads, while the related achillea has tall flat plates. Buenos Aires verbena is airy, with angular stems and small tops. Lythrum has tall spires, as does foxglove. Sedum is smaller and flat-topped in a rich, dark coffee colour. Monarda has stiff upright stems with rounded heads.

Eryngium seedheads have a tall dome at the centre, with a spiny ruff of withered bracts. Echinacea has tall dark cones, as does rudbeckia – though smaller, both of these being notable prairie flowers. Globe thistle has good perfect globes, and another thistle family plant, the cardoon, can reach well over two metres. Some kinds of poppies make good seedheads, others are soft-stemmed and collapse.

Cow parsley has typical carrot-family round, flat topped umbels and there are others, such as fennel and anthemis, that offer similar umbels. Phlomis has distinctive whorls of flowers up the stems, dark-coloured for great contrast. Lunaria or money flower has flat silvery seedpods that offer a light shimmer and last very well. Astilbe in various sizes has quite dense brown seedheads in most forms. Withered grasses are the natural accompaniment for the shapes of flower seedheads. The grasses are soft and light in contrast to the general solidity of flower stems.

Miscanthus is wonderful, also called silver grass, and there are many kinds. Pampas grass is big but may have a place in a large garden. Stipa tenuissima or feather grass is low and light-coloured. Panicum is arching and medium-sized. Molinia or moor grass is airy and light, growing to over one metre in some cases.

Over the coming weeks, take note of which plants give good results in winter, and identify locations for some of the outstanding winter seedhead plants mentioned. The winter show of these plants is a bonus that comes after flowering, so why not avail of it? CL

Storing vegetables

Vegetables still in the ground are generally in good condition – still growing in some cases – because the weather has been so mild with no frost until very recently. The question arises of whether to store vegetables, now mainly root vegetables – carrots, parsnips, swedes and beetroot.

Potatoes are usually lifted and stored unless only early varieties were grown and have been used up. Parsnips and swede turnips are usually left in the ground, as are leeks. Carrots and beetroots will get by fine in a mild winter and can be lifted in a frosty area, or covered.

The type of soil also has an influence. Vegetables last better outdoors if grown in light, sandy soil, but they are more prone to rots in heavy soil. Another factor is pest attack. If there are carrot fly, slugs or wireworms in action, it is best to lift and discard affected vegetables, only storing those unaffected.

Fruit, vegetables & herbs

This is the ideal time for planting new fruit trees and bushes and the soil has been in ideal condition. Dig over vegetable ground, removing old crops. If necessary, store vegetables that can be over-wintered in a pit or shed. Control weeds over areas of ground that will be dug over later.

Flowers

Frost arrived later than usual and dahlias, begonias and gladiolus growing gardens in frosty localities should be lifted to prevent damage, or covered with soil in milder areas. Spring bulbs should be in the ground by now but should be planted. Bedding plants for spring colour.

Lawn

Grass growth continued very late this year but moss growth is also very active. Lawn mosskiller can still be used. Otherwise, the moss will build up. Trim edges of a lawn, even if it’s not mowed, to leave it looking neat over winter. Occasional mowing in winter is good if the soil is not too wet.

Trees, shrubs and roses

Planting of bare-root deciduous trees, hedging and shrubs can continue during dry weather. Don’t plant into very wet ground or into planting holes that fill with water because the wet conditions cause the roots to rot. All kinds of pot-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted, of course.

Greenhouse and house plants

Remove all debris and dead plants and ventilate occasionally. Water very little to reduce the risk of grey mould disease. Set up a greenhouse frost protection heater to protect tender plants, such as geraniums or fuchsias. Tidy up pots and trays and wash down the glass to remove algae and dirt.