Planting Containers and Baskets for Winter Color

If you're wondering how to tackle the challenge of keeping your landscape beautiful when most of your plants have gone to bed for the season, worry no longer! One of the best ways to brighten up a gloomy cold-season landscape is to plant some seasonal container gardens and hanging baskets for a pop of much-needed winter color, and—lucky for you—we've got some expert advice in this area. In this blog, we'll show you how to create stunning seasonal container arrangements that thrive in the Utah off-season with little more than the right selection of plants and a bit of creative flair! 

Choosing the Right Winter Container Plants

Try planting these top plant picks this fall for some seriously cool winter color:

Winter Flowering Annuals: Yep, winter flowering annuals are really a thing! These incredible plants are hardy enough to withstand our cold winter temperatures, and they add vibrant colors and a delightful wow factor to containers and baskets. Some of our favorites for the Salt Lake City climate include pansies, violas, and ornamental kale. 

Evergreen Container Plants: Evergreens like dwarf conifers, boxwoods, and holly are ideal choices for winter container gardening, as they provide year-round greenery and offer a striking backdrop for other seasonal additions.

Frost-Tolerant Perennials: Adding frost-tolerant perennials like heuchera, sedum, and wintergreen into your fall and winter container designs is another beautiful way to enjoy the cold season outside. These plants can endure the winter chill and return year after year, ensuring your containers stay stunning!

Ornamental Grasses: Ornamental grasses such as feather reed grass and blue oat grass lend a touch of elegance to your winter containers. Their graceful plumes and textural interest are sure to stand out in your landscape against the stark winter backdrop.

Creative Winter Container Design

Now that you know what to plant, it's time to show off what your green thumbs can do! Here are some of our favorite winter container design ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

Colorful Accents 

We all know how drab and dreary winter can get, so fight those winter blues by adding some pops of color to your containers and baskets with decorative items like ornaments and ribbons! Use ribbons to tie bows around container handles or drape them elegantly over your planters. Think bold, vibrant colors that celebrate the fall and winter seasons, like red, orange, and gold. White and silver accents can also be added later in the season for a more festive vibe as the chill sets in. 

Interesting Sticks and Cones

Responsible foraging can yield unique treasures, like interesting sticks, pinecones, and seed pods, that make fantastic adornments for your seasonal containers and planters. These natural elements enhance your winter display's aesthetics and connect it back to your landscape and local environment.

Winter Floral Displays

Don't limit your winter container creations to traditional flowers. Instead, try incorporating some dried flowers—like hydrangeas—or ornamental grass seed heads from your summer garden to add texture and dimension to your containers. 

Winter Container Gardening Tips for Success

While your creative instincts are a big part of your winter gardening success, proper care is just as crucial for ensuring the longevity and health of your winter container plants. Here are some basic care tips to help you keep your displays looking vibrant and festive all season long:

Prepare your soil: Fill your containers with well-draining potting soil and make sure they have plenty of drainage holes to prevent waterlogging your plants' roots and facilitate excess water runoff. Winter mulching is also a great way to prepare your soil.

Keep watering: Water your winter containers when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Be cautious not to overwater, however, as this can lead to root rot. 

Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch on top of your container's soil to help insulate your plants' roots and maintain consistent soil temperatures.

Protect from Extremes: During particularly cold spells, move your containers to a more sheltered location or use frost protection cloths to shield your plants.

Prune and Deadhead: Regularly remove dead or faded flowers and leaves to encourage new growth and maintain the overall appearance of your containers.

Winter container gardening can be one of the best ways to keep the magic of gardening alive over the fall and winter months. Your container garden could even sustain your favorite Christmas dish. With careful plant selection, creative design ideas, and proper care, you can create stunning seasonal containers and planters that thrive in Utah's cold winter weather and liven up your outdoor spaces. We hope you'll let your containers shine throughout the season, and we look forward to helping you find all the best plants and gardening supplies you'll need to make your winter a happy one!