We all love to spend time in our gardens during the hot sunny months; but when it comes to the colder half of the year, many gardens become empty, unused spaces. With a little planning however, you can easily create a garden that is welcoming and attractive all year round.

Winter

The coldest part of the year can be difficult for gardens; so many plants die back in winter that it can leave your garden looking lifeless. This isn’t universally true though – there are a range of shrubs that not only survive the winter, but thrive in it. By planting all-season shrubs like these at the back of your border, or in the centre of an island bed, you can provide a backdrop for the spring and summer colours, and a beautiful, colourful centrepiece for the winter.

Chimonanthus praecox (Wintersweet) – Produces small, highly scented yellow flowers in late winter and early spring (December – February). However, if grown from seed it can take several years to flower; so be patient.

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' (Viburnum) – An upright shrub which can easily reach 10 feet (3m) in height, this is perfect for bringing life to your winter garden, as it produces lovely pink to white flowers from autumn through to spring. It flowers on bare branches, so is best planted in front of evergreens to show it off to its best.

To encourage wildlife in your garden over winter, install a bird feeder with fat blocks, grain and nuts in wire cages – not plastic nets though, as these can be harmful to some birds. If you have a pond that freezes over, melt the ice with a pan of hot water so that wildlife can get to the water. Breaking it with a hammer isn’t recommended as it can disturb the pond life.

Spring

In springtime, gardening gets a little easier. Many plants start to come to life now, so it’s very easy to fill your garden with colour and life. Choose plants that will come into flower at different rates to provide a constantly evolving and beautiful garden.

Crocus – Although some crocuses flower in late autumn, most are early spring flowers. They are a vital part of any early spring garden, as they will attract bees to pollinate the rest of the garden.

Daffodils  - There are few flowers that say “spring” quite so clearly as daffodils – they are vibrant, colourful and surprisingly hardy, so they are able to tolerate the vagaries of the British weather very well.

While the days are getting longer and the sun will be shining brighter, spring can still be quite chilly in the garden, so it’s wise to invest in some heating. The Independent offers a guide to ten of the best garden and patio heaters, ranging from fire pits to halogen heaters.

Summer

By summer, your garden may be bursting with life and colour – or it may be suffering a little from high temperatures and dry days. Make sure that a hosepipe ban won’t devastate your garden by including beautiful, drought resistant plants that will be able to survive a heat wave.

Achillea (Yarrow) – Available in a range of colours, from bright yellows and oranges to deep pinks and delicate whites, Yarrow is an attractive plant that works well as a cut flower for indoor use as well – it’s also avoided by many pests, making it a low maintenance choice.

Sedum (Stonecrop) – A very hardy plant, Sedum offers a wide range of varieties, from low growing kinds for beautiful ground coverage to taller, more colourful varieties. The leaves of sedum plants are also edible, making an unusual addition to summer salads.

Accessorise your garden for the summer by adding some shade so that you can enjoy it without getting burnt – gazebos and garden parasols are ideal.

Autumn

As summer fades into autumn, the leaves of many trees burst into gorgeous shades of red, orange and yellow. If your garden doesn’t have space for trees, you can still enjoy a late burst of colour with a range of autumn flowering plants and shrubs.

Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple)- A small deciduous tree which works well in small gardens and even in containers, the Japanese maple offers a vivid display of autumn colours with leaves that turn from mid-green to bright red.

Begonia- Flowering from summer right through to the first frosts, begonias add a lovely splash of delicate colour to any garden. They’re ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes, and are perfect for brightening up shady spots.

As autumn days begin to shorten, adding some lighting to your garden will help you make the most of it. Solar powered lights are particularly effective, as they can store up charge during the day and don’t need to be wired up to the house.

Whatever you choose to plant in your garden, here at Verdon Grey we offer an excellent range of all weather garden furniture made from hardwearing and weather resistant materials. Each range is made to withstand the weather so that you can enjoy your outdoor space in comfort and style, whatever the season.