There is definitely something to be said for the stripped-back simplicity of the garden in winter. After the excesses of colour, shape, and scent during the summer, the bare earth of winter is a refreshing detox, like a cleansing herbal tea after one Christmas party too many. I love the silhouettes of trees against an icy sky, glistening spiders’ webs suspended between the branches, and quivering water droplets on the tip of every stem.

But there is a fine line between stylish sparseness and just plain old drab. If your garden in winter is more depressing than delightful, you need to pep things up with some fab new plants, and have a go at creating your own winter wonderland.

The first thing to think about is structure. Over-blown summer flowers hide a multitude of sins, but the monochrome of winter is less forgiving. If your lawn is a nondescript blob in the middle of your garden, try to define it: try sweeping curves or clean and crisp straight lines, but beware of anything that’s neither one nor the other. Then edge it properly so it doesn’t crumble into your borders.

Once you’ve got your basic shapes in order, have some fun with the plants. Evergreens are top of the list for winter interest, and depending on the size of your garden you probably want a balance of upright shapes and more rounded bushes. Although they’ve been out of fashion for a while, variegated plants are making a big comeback and they are a great way to bring some light to a dark corner. My favourite is good old Euonymus fortunei – it grows virtually anywhere and makes little, if any, demands on its owners. For yellowy-gold tones you need ‘Emerald’n’Gold’, and for creamier, more muted colours try ‘Silver Queen’ or ‘Emerald Gaiety’. Also look at variegated hollies and the spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’), or if you’re not convinced and want to start small try gorgeous Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, which just has the green leaves very delicately edged in cream.

Viburnum 'Dawn' an intoxicating fragrance even in winter

As the name suggests, Daphne odora has an intoxicating smell from about December to March. Other scented winter plants are Viburnum and Sarcococca (sweet box or Christmas box). All will have your wandering round the garden trying to find out what smells so delicious. Make sure you plant them near a door or gate so you walk past them often. Good Viburnum varieties are V. bodnatense ‘Dawn’ and ‘Charles Lamont’, and for the sweet box look out for S. hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’, which has pinky-purple stems and pink-flushed flowers.

Helleborus (Christmas Rose) gives interest and colour in deep winter

For interest and colour right down to the ground, get yourself a selection of hellebores. They seem to breed rather indiscriminately so finding a definite variety isn’t always easy, but Helleborus niger (the Christmas rose), a soft, creamy white, and H. orientalis, are both great. Planting en masse creates most impact, and if possible you might want to put them in raised beds or containers – they nod their heads very coyly, so you’ll want to get up close to really enjoy them.

Lastly, try not to tidy up too much. Gardeners often talk about ‘putting the garden to bed for the winter’, and certainly a degree of clearance is essential. But don’t forget that some tender plants, like Verbena bonariensis, stand a better chance of surviving the cold if their old foliage is left on. You also get a nice warm glow on the inside from knowing that you’ve left some shelter and food for the wildlife in your garden, which is a great excuse for getting back inside and enjoying your winter garden from the comfort of your favourite armchair…