If you're lucky enough to live in milder climates, you are probably itching to fill up those empty planters with SOMETHING. Because nothing is sadder than greeting your guests with a planter full of dead leaves and old dirt--well at least that's how our "before" shot looks--ha!
So we went to our local nursery and asked the specialists to pick out some flowers that could survive colder temps (and maybe a light frost if covered) while still adding some color and life to the planters. Below is what we chose:
We knew that the area where the planters are stays shady in the morning with a healthy dose of afternoon sun so we made sure to choose plants that fair well in both conditions.
Dianthus is a nice, colorful choice since it needs full-part sun and blooms in the fall, winter and spring. The bright pops of pink are ideal for adding color to the wintery plants we plan to pair it with.
Violas are another great option to add color and they thrive under full/part sun. They can tolerate a frost too, while still adding color to your planter/flower pots.
Pansies are another hardy plant that can survive colder temps and a frost like Violas. They like full/part sun and tend to always be in bloom.
Then we decided to add in some ornamental cabbage since it is still February, we wanted to keep some wintry aspects to the planter awhile also adding some greenery. Cabbage loves full/part sun.
Now that we have chosen which plants to use in our planter, we get to work on setting up our planter for success.
Step 1:
Make sure to completely remove all of the old dirt from your planter and clear any drain openings at the bottom of the planter. One of the most common mistakes people make while filling up their planter is not leaving room for plants to drain properly. We solved this problem by cutting out 1/4 inch opening hardware cloth in a circle to put into the bottom of the planter. This allows for the soil to sit on top of the hardware cloth and drain easily so plants don't become overwatered.
Step 2:
Once you have the hardware cloth inserted in the bottom of the planter, you can now pour in your new potting soil and fertilizer. Next, arrange your plants in the layout that you want them to be in before you start planting. Make sure to leave room around each plant so they can spread their roots and grow.
Step 3:
Water and enjoy! Make sure to cover them if a frost is coming to help protect the flowers as we head into spring. For more garden tips, visit our Grow It page.