As the cold weather approaches, don’t think you have to ...



ASK THE MASTER GARDENERS – Winter Containers

As the cold weather approaches, don’t think you have to put away your urns and planters. Instead you can design winter containers that will last from November to April.

Be sure to use a frost-proof pot such as wood, iron, metal and fibreglass. Follow the principles of good container design and use fillers, trailers and verticals to create a pleasing effect. You will be able to find a wide variety of Ontario natives at garden centres all winter including cedar, pine, fir and juniper (which has the added advantage of blue or red berries).

Other greens you can use as filler include bay leaves, boxwood and Scotch broom. For the trailing elements look for evergreen branches, such as white or red pine, that will drape around and over your container’s edges.

For strong vertical elements, try branches from shrubs such as dogwood, curly willow, black alder and birch. And eucalyptus is available in both green and purple.

You don’t have to give up colour just because it’s winter. And while you can certainly buy a variety of container materials, don’t overlook what may be in your own back yard.

Try adding hips or berries from plants such as bittersweet, holly, winterberry, vibernum or shrub roses. You can also include seedheads from perennials such as sedum, hydrangea blossoms and ornamental grasses.

Aim for a variety of textures and different lengths, to give your containers interest that will last throughout the winter months. Use florists’ design principles: either one-third pot and two-thirds branches or half pot and half boughs.

Be sure to consider our typical winter conditions as you design. You need to ensure balance and stability to resist winter winds and the weight of snow, unless your container is in a protected spot. You can replace any branches that brown as they age, or enjoy the natural changing colours as winter progresses.

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