Designing Winter Gardens with Corten Steel Planters
Francis Frost
Designing for Winter: How to Add Structure and Beauty to a Dormant Garden
Winter gardens don’t need to be dull. In fact, the quiet months are the perfect time to showcase structure, form, and materiality - turning your outdoor space into something sculptural and serene.
At Tiny Anvil, we believe good design carries through every season. And winter is when your hardscaping choices take centre stage.
The Role of Planters in the Winter Garden
While deciduous trees shed their leaves and perennials retreat underground, Corten steel planter troughs remain beautifully steadfast - adding warmth, order, and contrast to the garden.
Corten Steel Trough Planter by Tiny Anvil – A sculptural element in any season
- Crisp Geometry - Use rectangular troughs to define paths, frame spaces, or establish visual rhythm.
- Material Contrast - The warm rusted tones of Corten steel glow against mist, frost, and greenery.
- Evergreen Anchors - Low-maintenance plants like dwarf conifers, clipped bay, or architectural grasses lend year-round elegance.
Tips for Winter Garden Styling
1. Think Sculptural
Choose bold, structural plants - like flax, cycads, or topiarised forms - that hold their own through winter.
2. Work with Repetition
Line up multiple planter troughs along a path or wall to create depth and cohesion.
3. Embrace Seasonality
Don’t fight the dormancy - celebrate it. Use empty space to highlight shape and material.
Featured Product: The Tiny Anvil Corten Steel Planter 1400 Trough
Built to withstand the elements, our planter troughs are the winter heroes of any outdoor space. With their natural patina and minimalist form, they serve as both vessel and sculpture.
Line up multiple planter troughs along a path or wall to create depth and cohesion
Enduring Beauty, All Year Round
Winter is a reminder that elegance doesn’t always need blooms. With the right elements, your garden can be just as captivating in July as it is in January.
Let your landscape speak quietly - with strength, structure, and enduring style.