Great winter containers from outdoor planters to window boxes

Outdoor planters to window boxes

Container gardening doesn't have to stop once the growing season is over. Use strong plants and seasonal cuttings to get your pots going in spring.

During the cold months of January and February, when the setting is dark and the sky gray, winter containers can cheer the soul and provide a colorful punch to the landscape. Many gardeners leave their potted creations in the fall, but that can be a terrible waste, because color and interest are so important in winter.

Creating a winter design is not difficult. A general rule of thumb for container-plant survival in winter is to use plants that are at least two colder zones than your USDA hardiness zone; However, this is not always an absolute rule. Many trees, shrubs and perennials that are hardy in your zone will live and thrive in containers in all four seasons. In this case, a frosting pot with a drainage hole is important. The best weatherproof containers to use are fiberglass, lead, steel, heavy plastic, and stone; Terra-cotta will eventually expand and crack with repeated freezing and thawing.

Gather your designs early to give the plants time to acclimate to their new pots before a hard frost. Also, winter containers should only be checked for water, usually monthly, to make sure they don't dry out; When the soil eventually freezes and becomes solid, watering is not necessary. Apply antidesiccants like Wilt-Proof to broad-leafed greens and cut greens to protect them from drying winter winds. In terms of design, I like to use live plants, cut branches, colorful berries and interesting foliage to decorate the pots for maximum seasonal appeal.

By following these simple guidelines, you'll find winter shines bright throughout, and you'll have less to worry about come spring.

1. Gold highlights seasonal colors

The vibrant colors of these container plantings make it stand out. Redtwig dogwood's scarlet stems are strikingly prominent and add a structural element to the container. To highlight them, it helps to have a solid green background so that the thin branches stand out. Surrounding the base of the dogwood are two small Japanese pears, whose glossy, dark green leaves provide bulk and texture to the design. The lemon yellow leaves of 'Golden Sword' yucca complement the dogwood. Two perennials, 'Bressingham Ruby' Bergenia and 'Caramel' Heechera, are placed around the bottom of the pot to add extra color. 'Ivory Tower' Japanese hollies on each side of the dogwood add more color interest with their creamy yellow berries. Branches of golden-thread swara echo the yellow tones from the holly berries. The result is a burst of color that brightens up the gray of winter days.

Hardy plants

1. ‘Elegantessima’ Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Elegantessima’, Zones 2–8)

2. 'Ivory Tower' Japanese holly (Ilex crenata 'Ivory Tower', Zones 5–7)

3. 'Golden Sword' Yucca (Yuca filamentosa 'Golden Sword', Zones 4–11)

4. Japanese pears (Pierris japonica, zones 6–8)

5. 'Bressingham Ruby' Virginia (Berginia 'Bressingham Ruby', Zones 4–8)

6. Heechera ‘Caramel’ (Heechera ‘Caramel’, Zones 3–8)

2. Dress up a beautiful pot

If a container strikes on its own, winter is the perfect time to show it off. The rust color of this container echoes the russet brown undersides of the southern magnolia branches, which provide mass and bold structure to their glossy, broad foliage. A colorful vinca vine that spans the eye of a 5-foot-tall pot elevates the height of this container. Three other types of cut branches complement this arrangement. Winterberry branches add color, while the elegant structure of Japanese cedar and Lawson false cypress softens the overall look of the arrangement. If you want the container to shine, it's best to keep the plant plates simple.

Hardy plants

1. Variegated vinca vine (Vinca major ‘Variegata’, Zones 7–9)

Fresh-cut boughs

2. ‘Winter red’ winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’, Zones 5–8)

3. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora, Zones 7–9)

4. Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japon­ica, Zones 6–9)

5. Lawson false cypress (Chamae­cyparis lawsoniana, Zones 5–9)

3. Rely on strong forms of standing in the snow

Many people think winter containers are a waste of time because they can't be appreciated when they're covered in snow or ice. Using strong architectural shapes on your containers will allow them to stand out even when frozen. Hardy 'Green Mountain' boxwood has this type of profile. Its clean, simple lines stand out against any background, especially when dusted with snow.

To highlight the dark leaves of boxwood, I combine it with the slender leaves of silver-colored Japanese sedge. The soft green and white foliage of 'Snow Angel' heechera gives mass to the arrangement, and 'Angelina' sedum is wedged for its cascading trend. Yellow pansies may not survive to the end of winter, but are wonderful for a short time. The robust shape of this design will make it a show-stopper all winter long.

Hardy plants

1. ‘Green Mountain’ boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Mountain’, Zones 4–9)

2. Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana cv., Zones 8–11)

3. ‘Ice Dance’ Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’, Zones 5–9)

4. ‘Angelina’ sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’, Zones 3–9)

5.  ‘Snow Angel’ heuchera (Heuchera sanguinea ‘Snow Angel’, Zones 3–8)

4. Add a flourish to a focal point

Although the hues on this plant are not traditional, they are still dramatic and seasonally appropriate. The strong vertical shape of the yucca with its green beaks makes the perfect focal point for the design.

The dark foliage of a 'Plum Pudding' heechera provides contrasting color at the base of the mix, and the steel-blue cut stems of a soft cypress pick up the silvery hues of the yucca's glistening hairs on its edges. With their contrasting shape and color, the orange winterberry branches also accentuate the sculpture of the yucca leaves. These fruits usually develop earlier than red winter, so the berries don't last long on the branch, but the color is worth the effort. Despite the lack of traditional red and green colors, the yucca's thick vertical leaves and unexpected colors of this design stand out in winter.

Hardy plants

1. Beaked yucca (Yucca rostrata, Zones 5–11)

2. ‘Plum Pudding’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’, Zones 4–9)

Fresh-cut boughs

3. Orange winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Aurantiaca’, Zones 5–8)

4. ‘Carolina Sapphire’ smooth cypress (Cupressus arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’, Zones 6–9)