Can container plants survive winter months?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Winter container gardening can be done, as long as you have the right selection of plants and ways to protect them. Many plants can withstand freezing temperatures if provided with the right care. By carefully selecting hardy plants, you can create vibrant ornamental displays during the cold months. It is essential to prepare ahead of time, before the first frost, to ensure your success.
Cold-Hardy Plants
- Dwarf conifers: Maintain color down to -20°F (-29°C)
- Ornamental grasses: Provide texture with frost-resistant seed heads
- Pansies: Bloom intermittently during winter warm spells
- Heuchera: Offer colorful foliage in purples and silvers
Protective Measures
- Insulation: Wrap pots with bubble wrap or burlap
- Elevation: Place containers on pot feet preventing ground freeze contact
- Grouping: Cluster pots together creating microclimates
- Windbreaks: Position near walls blocking harsh winds
Seasonal Maintenance
- Water reduction: Water monthly when soil thaws slightly
- Pruning: Remove only dead material avoiding new growth cuts
- Snow management: Brush heavy snow off branches promptly
- Monitoring: Check for rodent damage under mulch layers
Pre-frost preparation starts in late fall. I relocate pots to walls, capturing winter sun. I wrap ceramics to prevent crack frost damage. I mound mulch around root balls after the soil freezes to stabilize temperatures and avoid cycles of thawing that cause root damage.
Water management changes drastically during the cold. Prepare to irrigate deeply before the ground freezes. Reduce monitoring to monthly during dormancy, water using tepid water on warming days above freezing. Never irrigate the soil while it is frozen to avoid damaging roots due to the expansion of ice.
Winter Arrangements are a way to combine textures to add some visual interest. Combine some red twig dogwood stems with dried hydrangeas. Variegated ivy for trailing greenery. I like to tuck some pine cones in between ornamental kale. These combinations hold up throughout our snow and supply lots of color.
Read the full article: 10 Best Plants for Containers
