With winter maintenance tasks such as pruning, debris removal, and mulching completed, gardeners are encouraged to take this time to reevaluate their flower gardens. The dormant season provides an opportunity to assess plant performance and garden design, according to Sara Milnes, a UC Master Gardener responsible for the Flower Garden at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden near Stockton Airport.
Milnes recommends photographing plants throughout the year using a smartphone for record-keeping. “Right plant, right place” is a guiding principle in gardening. Milnes suggests assessing whether each plant is thriving in its current location or if adjustments are needed: “Are all the plants happy where they are in the garden? Do they have the requirements they need? Is a plant underperforming, such as poor bloom or weak growth? Is it overperforming, growing too tall for its place, or spreading and reseeding? Can we remedy the problem?”
She gives examples from her own experience: bearded iris (Iris x germanica) that received too much sun struggled during Central Valley summers but performed better with some shade. She notes that overcrowding can occur when plants outgrow their space, requiring division or transplanting.
Another factor is whether the plants still bring satisfaction. “Do the plants give us joy? Do they look good, bloom reliably and long, complement other flowers with their shape, color, and size, and add to the coherence of the landscape design? Have the plants become too high maintenance?” Milnes writes.
Garden design often evolves over time due to changing conditions or new additions. She emphasizes reviewing layout principles—such as placing taller plants at the back—and maintaining coherence by grouping similar species rather than scattering single specimens. Bloom color and timing should also be considered to ensure year-round interest.
“Don’t be afraid to remove what doesn’t work or move it to be better spot,” she advises. “Sometimes we need to be ruthless to create a better look!”
Milnes outlines steps for planning improvements: identifying which plants should stay or go; addressing issues like stress or reduced blooming; adjusting placement for visual balance; and introducing annuals if needed.
She acknowledges practical constraints when redesigning established gardens: “We’re looking at an existing garden, and unless we want to tear it out and start anew, we’ll have to go in steps.” For example, mature rose bushes remain despite not being ideally placed because of their health and beauty.
The plan for her demonstration garden includes dividing bulbs like canna lily in spring; moving Shasta daisy; dividing iris after blooming; transplanting crowded species; curbing aggressive spreaders; and researching suitable new additions.
Milnes concludes by encouraging gardeners: “Any garden plan needs to have specifics, or it’s likely not to get done. Deciding what changes to make. Planning for them is part of the fun of gardening in the winter.”
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), which supports initiatives like these through research-based outreach programs statewide—including local offices in all 58 California counties—offers resources on plant selection and garden design via publications such as Sunset magazine’s guides and Cornell University’s online materials (https://ucanr.edu/). UC ANR applies University of California expertise across California communities through research centers serving diverse ecosystems (https://ucanr.edu/).
For more information about science-based gardening practices supported by UC ANR—which has enhanced lives statewide for more than a century—visit their official website.