With such a stunning array of autumnal texture and colour on show at this time of year, it’s the perfect time to plant up your own container. In this guide we'll take you through the process, step-by-step – from preparing your pot to arranging your plants – before sharing some helpful tips on how to keep your display looking great all through winter.
Step 1: Choose your pot, potting mix and plant feet
It’s completely up to you what size and style of pot you use but we strongly advise choosing one with a drainage hole on the bottom.
Good drainage is really important to prevent water from collecting at the bottom of the pot. This is not only bad for plants but also increases the chance of your pot cracking in freezing temperatures.
Top Tip: To help with drainage, fill the bottom of each pot with pea shingle or small gravel. This helps water flow freely and keeps the roots from sitting in excess moisture.
For compost, opt for a peat-free, multi-purpose mix. Westland with added John Innes is a good choice as it’s nice and airy and won’t retain too much water.
For winter planters we recommend getting some plant feet for your pot. More on that later on!
Step 2: Choose plants for winter interest
Next, the fun part – choosing your plants!
For the best results, try and think about both texture and colour as that’s what really brings a planter to life.
Eve’s gone with a classic festive combo of Skimia japonica, Hellebore Christmas Carol, and some topiary for a bit of structure.
You'll find a great selection of plants you can feature in your container at your local British Garden Centre.
Step 3: The planting process
Start by placing some broken crock or a few stones over the drainage holes. This is an important step as otherwise your compost will likely block your drainage holes, effectively rendering them useless!
Next, add a layer of pea shingle, which is crucial for ensuring water can drain freely from the pot.
Once you've sorted your drainage layer, you can start filling the pot with your compost. As you plant, make sure to gently tease the roots of each plant apart.
Top Tip: When placing your plants, position them so that their best side faces outwards for maximum visual impact.
It’s also generally a good idea to start with your largest plant first as a focal point, and then add the smaller ones around it.
Step 4: Protecting your pot for winter
When you’re ready to put your container into position, we recommend placing it on some pot feet.
These not only allow water to drain freely through the bottom of your pot to prevent waterlogging, they also helps avoid any nasty mould and mildew building up under your pot.
Finally, give your container a good watering. You should see water flowing freely out the bottom of your pot thanks to adding that crock, gravel and pot feet!
Step 5: Reuse your plants next year!
One of the best things about winter planting is that you can generally re-use the plants in the garden next year!
When spring arrives, you can simply lift your plants from the container and replant them elsewhere in the garden.
You can then refresh your pot with a lovely new arrangement of spring blooms.
Thanks for reading.
