Creating seasonal planters for autumn & winter

The first frosts will spell the end of summer bedding plants, but you can inject new seasonal magic into your outdoor pots by choosing the right plants for colourful winter displays.

Here I offer my tips on what plants to choose, suitable containers for planting, and how to plant.

1. Choosing winter plants

When it comes to winter pots, it goes without saying that you want hardy, resilient plants that can withstand low temperatures and frosts. I personally love using plants with colourful foliage – they really stand out in winter when there is little other colour in the garden. Grasses are a fantastic way of adding texture and form, and berries always provide a welcome burst of colour and seasonality.

Here are some of my favourite plants for winter pots:

- Phormium ‘Dazzler’

- Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’

- All winter flowering heathers

- Gaultheria procumbens

- Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’

- Carex oshimensis ‘Everest’

- Carex buchananii

- Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’

- Hellebores niger

- Vinca minor ‘Variegata’

2. Preparing Your Container

Choose a pot that is frost-proof, so that all of your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Good options include fibreglass, wood, plastic and treated terracotta or clay. Avoid regular terracotta or clay as they often crack in freezing temperatures.

Ensure there are drainage holes at the bottom of your pots to allow water to drain away and minimise risk of waterlogging. Fill the bottom of the pot with crocks or gravel.

Elevate your pots by placing them on blocks or pot feet - this allows water to drain away, preventing waterlogging and reducing the risk of frost damage.

3. Planting Your Winter Pot

Fill your pot with a good quality, peat free compost that keep your plants fed over the season ahead.

When it comes to arranging your plants, a good tip is to think about having ‘a thriller, a filler and a spiller’. Place a taller centerpiece (the “thriller”), surround it with mid-sized plants (the “fillers”), and let some spill over the edges (the “spillers”). A good example would be Phormium ‘Dazzler’ as the thriller, Carex ‘Everillo’ as the fillers and Vinca minor variegata as the spillers!

Water thoroughly after planting, but don’t drown them. Aim for moist—not soggy—soil.

4. Enjoy the Results

Step back and admire your creation. You’ve just added a dash of winter charm to your outdoor space.

Happy planting!