Outdoor winter planters are gaining in popularity. They are an easy, inexpensive way to add colour and beauty to a front entrance, patio or anywhere that can use some instant colour. It seems that the more outdoor winter containers you see, the more creative they become.

Outdoor winter containers are made up of plants and things that are found in nature.

Evergreen branches, decorative deciduous branches, driftwood, berries, seed pods, and pinecones, can all be part of the container. Then you have the choice to add some 'bling' to the container, using coloured balls, ornaments, ribbons etc.

The container itself can also be decorative. Many homeowners are using the same containers that were used for their outdoor summer flowering containers, including the soil. They simply, cut back all the annuals to ground level and then add the greens to make a winter container.

The first step in creating an outdoor winter container is collecting all the needed materials. Go for a walk in your yard, or the bush and snip off a few branches from pine, spruce, juniper, birch, dogwoods, or any other plants you like. Remember that when removing branches, only take one or two branches from a plant as you don't want the plant to loose its shape. You can also purchase fresh greens, and branches from the garden centres. Cedar boughs, different varieties of spruce and pine, holly, curly willow, and colourful dogwood branches are all available.

When you have all the supplies, you can start to build the planter. If you are using an empty container fill it soil and then place a water soaked oasis on top of the soil. The soil is a filler and the oasis is for placing the greens in. Summer containers that are filled with soil and left outside may have to be thawed first before you can use them as it is hard to place branches in frozen soil!

Start off with placing the greens in first. Most planters consist of a 2-3 different types of greens for the different contrast in colour as well as form. Cedar boughs are beautiful for the lower part of the planter as they gently bow down. Pine and spruce branches can be mixed in with the cedar and add height as these branches tend to be stiffer. The container size will dictate to the size of the arrangement, and it looks best if its symmetrical.

After the greens are in, we like to add the deciduous branches if you are using them. These add airy height and colour. You can also add tall, 2-3 cm thick, birch sticks to the planter for added height and natural colour. Another option would be to light up the container by purchasing decorative branches that have mini lights in them. They come in several colours and can be plugged in or on a battery. Decorative seed pods, and pine cones are a beautiful, natural addition to the planter. The seed pods and pine cones can be glittered if you want to add some sparkle. You can stop here or you can continue to add to the container.

 I have seen birdhouses with ornamental birds, deer antlers, drift wood, rattan, etc added to containers. You can also add some 'bling' to the container with colourful balls, and ribbons. When creating a container, let your imagination go and add your own personal taste!

When the container is done it can be given a little more water, (not too much as you don't want it to become waterlogged) and then place it where it can be enjoyed. When temperatures are below zero do not touch it but when the temperatures go above freezing the greens can be misted with water to keep them fresh. It is also important to water the container periodically so that the greens continue to have moisture. If cared for properly winter containers can last for many weeks.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:

Highway 16 West at Kimball Road

Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road.