Every season is a reason to create a container garden. Here are ten tips from our designers to keep color and texture in your winter containers all season:
Feet
Make sure to set your container on “pot feet” to allow for drainage and help prevent cracking from repeated freezing and thawing.
Zones
As a general rule, choose plants hardy to at least two zones colder than your USDA Hardiness Zone. This will help the success of your container garden in the event of colder than normal temperatures.
Plant
Get your designs planted sooner than later, giving your plants enough time to acclimatize before a hard freeze.
Texture
Create beauty using colorful evergreen foliage, and a variety of textures! Check out the following plants to get started: Helleborus, Heuchera, Juncus, Heather, Cyclamen, Euphorbia, Carex, Wintergreen, Pansy.
Bulbs
Consider tucking in spring blooming bulbs into your container designs NOW, to be greeted with pops of color in the new year! Tulip and narcissus bulbs do particularly well in containers and come in a large variety of styles and colors.
Structure
Embellish with seasonal branches such as: dogwood stems, eucalyptus or birch branches, or magnolia leaves to add height, structure, and more texture to your designs.
Zones
As a general rule, choose plants hardy to at least two zones colder than your USDA Hardiness Zone. This will help the success of your container garden in the event of colder than normal temperatures.
Sparkle
Add a pop of shine using waterproof berries or oversized ornaments or weave a strand of battery powered fairy lights through your plants for a subtle effect. You can use these to tie in the décor from the interior to the exterior of your home.
Garden Art
Arrange glass or metal orbs of different sizes in clusters of three to create a focal point for added pizazz.
Greens
Do you or a neighbor have Western Red Cedar in your yard? Cut your own boughs to drape over the edge of your winter container designs (don’t forget to ask their permission, first!).
Ignore the Rules
Yes, that’s right! Don’t worry about any rules! Try two things off this list to create high impact and low maintenance winter container design.
Have fun!
More recommended plants for winter-styled containers.
