As the garden gradually falls asleep, winter planters take over. There are many frost-resistant plants that will bring a touch of color to your balcony, garden or terrace. And that's just what you need when the days turn gray and dark.
Which ingredients to choose?
Colorful plants to brighten up winter
Many plants bloom in winter, while others have pretty foliage or colorful berries.
- Flowering plants: hellebores, heathers, cyclamen, pansies
- Colorful foliage :
- Berries: skimmia (bright red), wintergreen (pink-red), ...
Branches, grasses and small shrubs for volume
It's always a good idea to create contrasts in shape, color or texture to give your planter some drama. Here are a few ideas:
- A dwarf conifer and a few branches of fir or holly picked in the forest,
- Evergreen ivy, boxwood, thyme or rosemary
- Santolin, helichrysum or mugwort for a silvery-grey touch
- Grasses for a light, airy effect
Accessories for a festive touch
The approach of the festive season is the perfect time to dress up your window boxes and give them a festive look. A few Christmas decorations, a pretty garland of lights... and you're all set! Here are a few possibilities:
- Colourful pine cones, ribbons and baubles
- A garland or luminous stars
- Branches of red or yellow dogwood
Preparing your planter
Whatever the season, make sure your planter is well prepared so you can enjoy it for as long as possible.
- Start by visualizing the composition of your planter. Arrange the various elements in front of the planter to find the best combination.
- Then make sure there are drainage holes in your planter to drain off water before it freezes and damages your plants and their container.
- Fill the planter 2/3 full, starting with a layer of clay balls, followed by good quality potting soil.
- For each plant, dig a hole (with its growing pot) to position it properly. Remove it from its plastic container, untangle the roots a little, then place it in the hole and pack the soil all around the plant.
- Water once everything is planted. And to guarantee a beautiful bloom, remember to add fertilizer regularly.
- Finally, decorate to your taste ... then enjoy your pretty winter planter.
Three examples of winter planters
The secret of a beautiful winter planter lies in the harmony of its plantings and foliage. And to prevent your planter from balding out too quickly, make sure you plant tightly: 3 to 4 plants for a 30 cm planter; 5 plants in a 50 cm planter, 8 in an 80 cm planter, etc.
Festive planter: red and green
The composition of this planter will be perfect for the holidays, especially if you complement it with some pretty Christmas decorations.
- A miniature conifer
- Red cyclamen
- A skimmia japonica (small shrub with red berries) or wintergreen
- Ivy
- Branches of red dogwood
Frosted planter: white and silver
More wintry and luminous, floral arrangements combining white flowers and silver foliage will brighten the gray days of the darkest months of the year.
- Hellebores and white pansies
- Maritime cineraria or calocephalus (for silvery foliage)
- Penettya (white berries)
- Mixed ivy for the drop
Suave planter: cameo of pink
- Cyclamen and/or pink hellebore
- Heuchères (purple foliage),
- Matching pansies and hyacinths
- Heather or wintergreen (with pink berries)
- Ophiopogon (graphic plant)
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