What Gardeners in the World’s Coldest Regions Can Teach Us About Winter Gardening

Frozen ground, short days and long stretches without visible growth can make it tempting to view the season as “dead time” in the garden. But in regions where the coldest season dominates the calendar, this mindset simply doesn’t hold – and some incredible winter gardening tips have been realised as a result.

Yes, for many gardeners across the northern United States (particularly those in the coldest USDA Planting Zones) winter often feels like something to endure rather than embrace. Elsewhere, though, the oft-maligned season is understood as a vital part of the growing cycle – particularly as so many plants depend on a prolonged chill to regulate their growth, strengthen their root systems and bloom properly when warmer weather returns.

This positive outlook is especially familiar in Nordic countries, where winter gardening isn’t about productivity, but patience. Here, gardeners work with the season, allowing landscapes to rest, reset and recover. It’s a slower, more observant approach – and one that offers valuable lessons for cold-climate gardeners everywhere.

What Nordic Winters Teach Us About Gardening

Annika Zetterman, garden designer and author of the book 'New Nordic Gardens: Scandinavian Landscape Design', is firmly of the belief that winter is every bit as important as any other season in the garden, if not more so.

“Winter in the Nordics is largely a time of rest and recovery for the garden, and people, as plants are dormant, gathering strength for the coming spring,” she says.

For gardeners in colder USDA zones, adopting this mindset can be genuinely transformative. Below, Annika shares key principles that shape winter gardening in the world’s coldest regions – and how they can be applied closer to home.

1. Cold isn't the Enemy

One of the biggest misconceptions about winter gardening is that cold damages plants by default. In reality, many perennials, shrubs and bulbs need prolonged cold to thrive.

“For many plants, cold and dark winters are a necessity,” says Annika. “Winter in the Nordics is vital for our distinct flora to exist.”

The same is true of the US, as those same winter chill hours help regulate plant hormones, prevent premature growth and encourage stronger flowering later in the year. Fighting cold with excessive mulching, particularly if you opt for something like manure which runs hot, can sometimes do more harm than good.

A light layer of mulch – applied once the ground has frozen – is usually sufficient to protect roots and conserve moisture, without overheating or suffocating the plants.

2. Snow is Nature's Insulation

While heavy snowfall can feel daunting, it often plays a protective role in the garden.

A thick layer of snow acts as insulation (some even call it the 'poor man's fertilizer'), stabilizing soil temperatures and shielding roots from damaging freeze–thaw cycles. Dormant perennials, bulbs and shrubs benefit from this natural blanket, which prevents soil from repeatedly freezing and thawing – a process that can heave roots out of the ground.

In areas with unreliable snowfall, gardeners often recreate this effect with leaf mulch or straw to protect exposed soil.

3. Wildlife Support Matters More Than Ever

Even when plants are dormant, gardens remain essential habitats. And so, in colder regions, one of the best winter gardening tips to hold onto is this: wildlife still needs a helping hand.

Annika insists that providing shelter and reliable food sources, then, should be a must, noting that birds, in particular, benefit from high-energy seeds and fats during prolonged cold spells. Stock up on Happy Wings Nyjer Seeds for Wild Birds from Amazon or Old Potters Sunflower Hearts from Walmart, keep feeders clean and water sources topped up, and consider scattering tennis balls across snowy lawns, too.

"In return you will witness beautiful wildlife (and life!) frequently in your garden," she promises. However, once feeding begins, she notes that it should continue until natural food becomes available again in spring. Sudden withdrawal during extreme weather can be harmful when animals have come to rely on garden resources.

4. Stillness has Value

Winter gardens may look quiet, but they are far from lifeless.

“To walk in winter gardens and landscapes is a mesmerising experience,” Zetterman says. “Observe the beauty and the silence that snow provides – silence is a rare thing these days.”

This visual and emotional pause is part of the gardening cycle. Winter offers a chance to step back, observe structure, and appreciate form: seed heads, bark, evergreens and frost patterns become the stars when flowers fade.

5. Start Your Seeds

If you're in the mood for a more practical winter gardening tips, you're in luck: Annika notes that now is the time that gardeners should begin to prepare for starting seeds indoors.

"Once the light returns, and although the snow may still be heavy outside, it is time to start growing the first seeds indoors – particularly those which require a long growing season, such as chilli, ground cherries, and eggplant."

You want to time it so that they're ready to be transplanted once outdoor conditions allow, as this slow, intentional preparation reduces stress and leads to stronger plants later.

6. Plan, Plan, Plan

In Nordic gardening culture, winter is not a time to be idle: instead, it's time to get strategic.

"A winter garden in the Nordics is special, telling us that gardening is a seasonal pursuit. It is a time to reflect on, and assess what worked well in the garden and plan for next year, so enjoy getting inspired and sketch new ideas," adds Annika.

"Your garden outside is not calling for attention, so enjoy and embrace winter to rest and gain energy, just like your garden tells you."

In cold-climate forums and gardening communities, experienced growers across North America regularly recommend mulching soil deeply before the first hard freeze, choosing winter-hardy vegetables such as kale, collards and Brussels sprouts, and using insulating fabrics or windbreaks to protect plants from biting winds and sudden temperature drops.

Many also point out that winter gardening isn’t just about temperature: light plays a crucial role, too. In northern states where days are short and skies are often overcast, winter growing becomes less about pushing for new growth and more about keeping plants alive until spring.

Simple structures like low tunnels (which are easy to make with hoops and covered in plastic or frost fabric, if you don't want to buy one ready-made from Amazon) can help trap warmth and shield crops from harsh conditions, particularly during prolonged cold snaps.

For many, these modest interventions are enough to bridge the gap between dormancy and the return of longer, brighter days. And there's no denying that these practical, community-tested strategies mirror the patient, seasonal approach embraced by Nordic gardening pros like Annika: it’s less about battling winter, and more about working with it.

By embracing winter as a necessary pause, then, rather than a failure of productivity, gardeners in colder USDA zones can build healthier landscapes, reduce burnout, and reconnect with gardening as a truly seasonal practice.

After all, sometimes the most important thing you can do for your garden is let it rest.