Plant a winter container

There’s a huge variety of great plants to choose for a dramatic winter container, from tightly clipped box balls in formal planters to stand guard by your front door, to pots of wispy grasses and even shallow bowls of low growing alpines such as sempervivums and sedums. Or if you prefer you can choose traditional winter bedding plants such as pansies and polyanthus.

winter pots of polyanthus, cyclamen and snowdrops — Polyanthus, cyclamen and snowdrops brighten up your winter pots. Image: Adobe Stock

Festive colours

For some colour and vibrancy choose plants with vibrant flowers and berries such as rich red cyclamen, the red-berried Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana and the checkerberry (Gaultheria procumbens). Marry them with deep green evergreens such as winter ivies for a festive feel and add a scented plant such as the evergreen and very fragrant sweet box (Sarcococca confusa) that will add a whole new dimension when it flowers from December to March.

Red cyclamen underplanted with ivy adds a festive feel. Image: Martin Mulchinock

Winter container tips

Ensure that all your pots and planters can drain freely. Excavate the drainage holes and raise the planters up on pot feet, or bricks to allow excess water to run through. This helps protect your planter from cracking in sub zero temperatures.

Plastic pots are a good frost-proof choice for winter planters. Image: Martin Mulchinock

Move planters containing plants susceptible to cold and frost to a protected position, ideally into a greenhouse, the shed or a conservatory.

Other plants in pots can be given extra protection by moving them to the shelter of a house wall, or placing them under the eaves where they benefit from the radiator effect of the walls.

Wrap large planters that are just too large to move in bubble wrap or horticultural fleece when extreme cold threatens.

Under-plant your upper layer of plants, with some spring flowering bulbs such as snowdrops, dwarf narcissi, crocus, species tulips and grape hyacinths, which will push their way through the plants to flower in the first months of the year bringing much needed colour and cheer to the garden.