Winter Blues? How to Turn Your Yard Into a Sensory Garden for the Season

In the wintertime, it can be hard to want to go outside when it’s cold, gray, and uninviting. That’s why it’s important to create an outdoor space that you get find tranquility and calmness from. And yes, this is possible even in winter, with the help of a sensory garden.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks to create your own personal sensory garden this year that will invigorate your senses and hopefully find some calm in the chaos of the world.

Grow Aromatic Plants

One of your five senses is smell, and while this sense is often overlooked, it’s super important for your sensory garden to incorporate all of your five senses. In the springtime, it’s easier to find aromatic flowers and plants (like red roses, lilies, etc), but for the winter, it will be best to stick with evergreen options like lavender, rosemary, and thyme.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Get Bird Feeders

Another one of your senses is sound, which is super important for a sensory garden. Putting bird feeders around your garden will help create a tranquil and peaceful environment. There’s nothing quite like being greeted to the soothing sound of bird calls that will help you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday stress.

Choose Plants Based on Their Texture

Texture is another important thing to add to your garden this winter, as touch and feel is a vital sense we all have. Incorporating different plants with different textures will help make your sensory garden even more fulfilling. Consider planting some tall and fluffy grass, like winter rye or winter wheatgrass. Lamb’s ear is another beloved plant that is you guessed it, as soft as a lamb’s ear (although this particular plant will need a lot of sun).

Choose Plants Based On Color

Of course sight is one of the most important senses and it’s vital your garden has a range of colors that will bring you some joy even during the coldest of days. And while it may seem like there aren’t a lot of options to grow colorful flowers and plants in the wintertime, there are actually a ton of fun and vibrant options.

Iceland poppies thrive in colder temperatures and come in a variety of yellow and orange tones. Snowdrops are also a popular option and will bring forth a vivid and pure white to your garden. And don’t forget holly berry to give your garden a pop of red—perfect for the holidays.

Install Water Features

If you have the room for it, something like a small water fountain or water feature to add to your garden will add a peaceful and inviting sound to your outdoor space. While it may be simple, something like the sound of water flowing will make your garden even more of a wonderful escape. Another thing you could add to your garden this winter? A bird bath that will give you the best of both worlds: more bird songs and the peaceful waves of water splashing.

Say goodbye to the winter blues and hello to a peaceful oasis of your own.