admin 
The dormant season is a great time to sow flower seeds, establish trees and shrubs, and get started on the vegetable garden.
By Kim Toscano Published on January 23, 2025
Although many plants have gone dormant, the winter garden is still an active place. Birds are feasting on last season’s seed heads, filling their bellies and dropping seeds all over the ground. These seeds are the start of next summer’s blooms. Gardeners can take a cue from nature and use winter as a time to plant seeds of a variety of annual and perennial flowers. Winter is also a great time to plant dormant trees and shrubs, including roses and fruit trees. And don’t forget cool-season edibles. The vegetable garden kicks off in early winter when a variety of crops are established.
Many plant seeds require a period of cold temperatures, called stratification, to break dormancy. This makes winter an ideal time to sow wildflower seeds, cold hardy annuals, and many perennials. The freeze-thaw cycles experienced throughout winter also help work seeds into the ground, and spring rains provide the moisture needed for young seedlings to grow. When planting seeds in winter, pay attention to soil temperature and moisture. Avoid working frozen or wet soil, as this damages soil structure and promotes compaction. Many gardeners prepare planting beds in fall, before the ground freezes.
The Southern climate provides ample opportunity to plant deciduous trees and shrubs during the winter months, a time when there is less demand on the root systems to provide water to foliage, flowers, and fruits. With winter planting, dormant trees and shrubs can focus their resources on root establishment. Note that even dormant plants need water, which they cannot access when the soil is frozen. As such, it is important to time winter planting in accordance with moisture availability. Plant dormant deciduous trees and shrubs during warmer periods of early or late winter, when the soil is not expected to freeze for four to six weeks after planting.
Dormant Trees And Shrubs To Plant In Winter
Winter is a good time to plant dormant deciduous trees and shrubs, but not evergreen species. Dormant plant material has lost its foliage and directed most of its resources to the roots for the winter. Evergreen plants, on the other hand, require a steady supply of water to the foliage throughout winter.
Many roses and fruiting trees and shrubs are sold bare root, meaning they have no soil or growing media around the roots. Bare root roses and fruits are planted during winter dormancy, typically in late winter once the soil thaws and is workable. Hydrate bare root plants before planting by soaking the roots in a bucket of water for at least two hours, but no more than 24 hours.
Dormant container-grown trees and shrubs can also be planted in winter. Gardeners living in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10, including the Deep South and much of the coastline, can plant throughout winter. In cooler locations and higher elevations, plant deciduous trees and shrubs in early or late winter when soil conditions are more amenable. It is important to water newly installed bare root and container-grown trees and shrubs after planting. Give them an insulating layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture and moderate soil temperatures.
It’s a Breeze® Red Rose
Credit: Southern Living Plant Collection
- Botanical Name: Rosa hybrid ‘Meigremlis’
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 11
Roses are commonly sold bare root from specialty nurseries that offer a great selection of varieties. Because they are shipped without soil, bare root plants tend to be less expensive than container-grown roses. Purchase bare root roses from a reputable nursery to ensure quality. Retailers typically ship at the appropriate time for planting in your location. Plant bare root roses as soon as possible to prevent the exposed roots from drying out.
DownHome Harvest® Prime-Ark® ‘Freedom’ Thornless Blackberry
Credit: Southern Living Plant Collection
- Botanical Name: Rubus hybrid ‘APF-153T’
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Rich, medium to moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.5)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
This tasty blackberry produces large, sweet fruits on thornless canes—making maintenance a breeze. The Prime-Ark®, from the Southern Living plant Collection, ‘Freedom’ fruits on both first year and second year canes, providing two harvests each year. Plants tolerate clay soil and are among the most heat-tolerant blackberries available. Like other fruit trees and shrubs, many blackberries are sold bare root for easy late winter planting.
Ginkgo
Credit: Roger Foley
- Botanical Name: Ginkgo biloba
- Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil Type: Medium to moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, or alkaline (5.0-8.0)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
This ancient species makes a gorgeous shade tree with a lovely upright, pyramidal canopy, distinctive fan-shaped foliage, and vibrant yellow fall color. Ginkgos are rugged trees, tolerating drought, heat, air pollution, and deer. The main consideration when purchasing a ginkgo tree is to buy a male tree, as the fruits of female trees produce a foul odor.
Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea
Credit: Southern Living Plant Collection
- Botanical Name: Spiraea bumalda ‘BI0601’
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (4.5-7.5)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
This popular garden shrub received an update with Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea from the Southern Living Plant Collection. More compact and heat tolerant than old-fashioned spiraea, Little Bonnie™ has lovely blue-green foliage that doesn’t burn in the summer sun and turns a fiery red-orange in fall. A spring flush of flowers is followed by sporadic blooms all summer long. Butterflies adore the pink blooms and deer leave this beauty alone. Spiraea can be a real problem solved in clay soils and helps control erosion.
Seeds To Plant In Winter
Winter is the ideal time to plant the seeds of many flowering annuals and perennials, including wildflowers. Wildflowers native to your area make good candidates for winter sowing. You can also seed non-native annuals and perennials that originate from areas with cold winter temperatures. Wait until after the threat of frost has passed to seed tender species like cleome and zinnia.
Eastern Columbine
Credit: Getty Images
- Botanical Name: Aquilegia canadensis
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Soil Type: Rich, moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
This native woodland beauty is beloved for its unique drooping flowerheads and lacy foliage. The red and yellow blooms provide an important source of early season nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees, while our four-legged friends tend to leave this plant alone. Columbine tolerates a range of growing conditions. Plant seeds on soil surface, gently pressing them into the soil without covering them. Columbine is perennial and self-sows in the garden.
Bachelor’s Buttons
Credit: Getty Images / David Burton
- Botanical Name: Centaurea cyanus
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Average, medium, well-draining
- Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline (6.6-8.0)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
This cold-hardy annual is easy to grow and makes a lovely, long-lasting cut flower. Blooms are typically an intense blue color, though pink and white varieties are available. Plants experience a long bloom season, flowering from spring to early summer. The blossoms attract an abundance of butterflies and birds love to nibble the seeds, which reseed readily in the garden. Deadhead plants to limit spread, if desired.
Purple Coneflower
Credit: Southern Living/Adrienne Legault
- Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Well-draining, Rich
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Winter sowing of coneflower seeds is a great way to provide the necessary chilling time (stratification) needed to break dormancy. Seeds require exposure to temperatures at or below 40˚F or lower for four to six weeks. To achieve this, sow seeds any time after the first frost of early winter. If you live in a warmer climate, you can stratify seeds in the refrigerator before planting outdoors. Cover seeds loosely with ¼ inch of soil.
Cardinal Flower
Credit: Ralph Anderson
- Botanical Name: Lobelia cardinalis
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Rich, medium to moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5-7.5)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
The scarlet blooms of cardinal flower are a hummingbird favorite and reason enough to plant this delightful native perennial. The flower spikes stand up to four feet tall and open from mid to late summer. Plants perform best with light shade and plenty of moisture. Spread seeds on the soil surface and tamp them in, but do not cover them with soil. Plants tolerate wet soil, but wither in the face of drought.
Cool-Season Vegetables To Plant In Winter
Sowing cool-season vegetables helps scratch the winter gardening itch. Several crops can be started as early as February, depending on your location. Many spring crops, such onions and cabbage, are grown from starts or transplants. Others can easily be grown from seed sown directly into the garden. Think of a spring salad bowl and these are the crops you can directly sow, despite winter’s chill: leafy greens like spinach and hardy root crops like radishes.
Garden Pea
Credit: Getty Images
- Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Rich, medium, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.2)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
Pea plants tolerate a light freeze, but can’t stand the heat of summer. As such, growing a quick spring crop offers the best success. Sow seeds as soon as the soil thaws and can be worked. Look for fast-maturing varieties or establish plants in a location that receives afternoon shade to lengthen the growing season.
Lettuce
Credit: Getty Images
- Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to pPartshade
- Soil Type: Rich, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
Lettuce also prefers cooler temperatures and is best produced before summer arrives, when high heat can cause plants to bolt (flower). Like peas, lettuce can be planted in shady sites to extend the harvest season into warmer months. Leaf varieties produce a crop faster than head varieties. Lettuce plants have shallow roots and require regular moisture for proper growth and good flavor.
Chard
Credit: Getty Images
- Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Rich, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-6.8)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
Chard plants produce large, glossy leaves with colorful stems. New foliage continues to grow after the initial leaves are harvested. For a continual harvest, remove the large, older leaves as they reach a desired size, leaving the inner leaves to mature. Although chard is not prone to bolting, the leaves take on a bitter flavor in the heat of summer. Chard is a relative of beets, which can also be sown in the winter.
Carrot
Credit: Getty Images
- Botanical Name: Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Type: Average, moist, well-draining
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.5)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
Carrot plants take several months to produce a plump, fleshy root. Starting plants early in the season allows plants to produce a crop before the hottest part of summer arrives. Plant seeds in rows, covering them with a quarter inch soil. Seeds can take up to three weeks to germinate. Once seedlings emerge, thin plants so they are two to three inches apart. Soil conditions are important to producing a good crop. Carrots need a loose loam or sandy soil and plenty of moisture.
What Not To Plant In Winter
While many plants can be seeded, moved, or planted in winter, there are some plants that do not tolerate winter planting. Warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash, and tender flowering annuals like moon vines are susceptible to freezing temperatures and should not be started until the threat of frost has passed. Marginally hardy plants like butterfly ginger are also best planted after warmer weather prevails, as are succulent and dessert plants, which do not tolerate wet winter soils well.
Among trees and shrubs, broadleaf and needled evergreens should not be planted in winter. The foliage of evergreen plants continues to lose water throughout winter. Planting during winter can
put too much stress on evergreen plants that are trying to establish roots while also providing adequate water to leaves. Wait until early spring or fall to plant evergreen trees and shrubs.
