003 | Fall into Winter: Perennials for Design and Wildlife

From the Garden: Embracing the Beauty of the November Garden

As November rolls in and the first frost settles on the garden, I’m reminded of a perennial debate among gardeners: to cut back or not to cut back the flowering perennials for winter? Some prefer the clean, tidy look of neatly trimmed flower beds, while others, like myself, have come to appreciate the quiet beauty of leaving the plants standing tall through the cold months.

At the beginning of my gardening journey, I used to be on the “cut it all back” team, eager to prepare the garden for a fresh start in spring. But over time, as I spent more seasons observing my garden and learning the insights of Finnish botanist and horticulturist Pentti Alanko, I realized how much life—and beauty—I was cutting away too soon. Nowadays, as I walk through my garden in late autumn, I marvel at the muted browns, deep chocolates, and soft silvers of the drying perennials. The once vibrant flowers have taken on a new, subtle palette, blending into the landscape in a way that feels peaceful and rich with texture.

I invite you to take a step back and notice your garden's subtle beauty this season. Let’s embrace the muted hues of November together and celebrate the life that continues even as the garden winds down for winter.

Happy designing and gardening!

Seasonal Spotlight: Don't Cut Back Your Perennials This Fall

As the garden settles into its winter slumber, it’s tempting to tidy up and trim back perennials for a clean look. But if you resist that urge, you’ll be rewarded with a garden full of hidden beauty and design potential while supporting the ecosystem in a season many overlook.

What to Leave and Why

In my own garden, I’ve come to appreciate the quiet elegance of leaving perennials standing through winter. It’s not just about embracing a wilder, natural look—it’s about creating a landscape that offers interest long after the flowers have faded. Think of plants like echinacea, rudbeckia, and sedum—their seed heads provide food for birds, while the hollow stems offer shelter for beneficial insects. This is especially important as pollinator populations decline. By allowing your garden to remain a little wild, you give it and its visitors a better chance to thrive.

In the fall, small birds flock to the seed heads of Martagon lilies (Lilium martagon) for a nutritious meal.

From a design perspective, the textures and subtle colors left behind by perennials can create stunning winter interest. Imagine the seed heads dusted with frost or the silvery hues of grasses swaying in the wind. The sculptural forms of dormant plants can catch the low winter light, transforming your garden into a tranquil, serene space. It’s a chance to focus on details and hues that might go unnoticed in the busier seasons, inviting you to see your garden with fresh eyes.

False spirea (Astilbe Arendsii Group) foliage has a stunning texture and deep, vibrant colors that add richness to the garden.

Preparing Perennials for Winter

Instead of cutting everything back, simply remove any damaged or diseased parts and let the rest stand tall. By spring, you’ll notice that earthworms and other organisms have worked hard to break down the plant matter and enrich your soil. The decomposing stems create a natural mulch, protecting and improving the health of your garden’s ecosystem.

Plus, leaving perennials in place means less work for you—just a light cleanup in the spring will have your garden ready for new growth. This simple, intentional approach encourages biodiversity and enhances your space’s winter beauty.

So this year, let your perennials be part of your winter garden design—standing tall and proud, adding texture, movement, and color even in the quietest months.

Japanese knotweed’s compacta variety (Fallopian japonica var. compacta) keeps its shape nicely into late fall.

Design Tip: So, how can you make the most of your perennials standing through winter? By focusing on their design potential. Even in the quiet months during fall and early winter, your garden can have structure and beauty. Here are a few ways to turn this simple choice into a design feature:

1. Focus on Texture – Choose ornamental grasses and perennials like sedum and echinacea, which offer interesting forms and textures that stand out in winter light.
2. Embrace Subtle Colors – Faded browns, silvers, and even rust tones can add a soft, natural palette to your garden that feels calming and timeless.
3. Create Winter Interest – Let the remaining seed heads and tall stems lead the eye to key areas of the garden, making the most of natural light and frosty mornings.

By allowing your perennials to remain standing, you not only create a refuge for wildlife but also a garden that captivates with texture, color, and form. It’s a simple yet powerful way to bring design into every season.

Learn & Grow: Bloom Your Garden Colors

I’m so excited to share that my Bloom Your Garden Colors online course is almost ready to roll for this fall! I’m eager to teach you my step-by-step system for creating a stunning, cohesive plant color combination for your planting areas!

The gardening season might be winding down, but now is the perfect time to plan your plant color palette. With winter coming and the past gardening season still fresh in your mind, it’s ideal to start designing your garden’s color guidelines for the next planting season. By the time seed catalogs start arriving, you’ll already have your plant color palette ready to turn your dreams into reality! 🌿✨

 Hop on the Waitlist

Join the Conversation:

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this ongoing garden debate! Do you cut back your perennials in the fall or let them stay where they are like I do? Maybe you’ve noticed something new in your garden this season or are experimenting with different wildlife-supporting techniques. Let’s swap stories and ideas!

Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below or ask any questions about designing and prepping your garden for the colder months. This is a space for us to learn from one another and celebrate the beauty of our winter gardens. 🌿✨

I am looking forward to hearing from you!