Do I Really Have to Put Away My Planter For the Winter?

The end of the summer and fall seasons always sadden me because of the thought of having to put away my flowering containers. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

There are many decorating options that can enhance your landscape throughout all of our Midwestern seasons. It's even been suggested to me to pick a perennial or shrub to plant in the container and use as your base to decorate throughout the seasons. 

A dwarf evergreen or a colorful grass would be a great focal point for your container plantings. (Beware, however, in our Midwestern temperate zone, that most perennials will only last in your container three or four years)

Artificial and natural branches can add some height, as well as provide the ability to string some lights for the winter holidays. Some floral supply companies sell colorful branches that can add sparkle against a grim landscape.

Willows and red-twigged dogwood will attract a lot of attention. I even spray painted some sedum heads with gold and silver paint and added some large artificial poinsettia flowers—what a gorgeous look against the snow!  

Don’t wait too long to decorate, though, as it will be very hard to work with your container with frozen soil.

Get creative and have fun!