CONTEMPORARY & SIMPLE
Winter Outdoor Planters Done 2 Ways…
A creative boost to lift your spirits!
As a kid, winter was my favorite season. I still look forward to it! Not just because it’s fun to hit the slopes (although now it’s the apres ski part that I REALLY enjoy the most, LOL) … but winter can be so awesome for many other reasons. I LOVE cooking and then digging into those hearty winter meals; cozy sweaters, snuggling up by the fire. AND, nothing compares to the beauty of a fresh snowfall. But I also find joy in my winter outdoor planters! I love getting creative, and this year I’ve got something contemporary, simple, yet decadent for my front entrance, and for my back deck, a traditional winter container that is very easy and yet so beautiful.
CONTEMPORARY WINTER OUTDOOR PLANTERS:
Materials:
- 4 Bunches Magnolia Tips
- 2 Bunches Large leaf Boxwood
- 3 Bunches Port Orford Cedar
- 1 Bunch Incense Cedar
- 4 Large Pine Cones
- 10 – 12 Medium Pine Cones
- 6 Birch logs (varying heights)
Instructions:
- Start with soil filled containers
- It’s OK to keep leftover trailing Ivy from summer
- Stake 3 Birch into soil at varying Heights
- Trim bases of Port Orford Cedar stalks so they are easy to anchor into soil
- Surround the base of the winter outdoor container with trimmed Port Orford Cedar
- Accent base with Incense Cedar for texture
- Pack Boxwood tightly in centre around the Birch
- Cut Magnolia tips in half or thirds for greater yield
- Surround the base of Boxwood with Magnolia tips
- Finish by putting large Pine Cones in the two front corners
- Place medium Pine Cones in between the Cedar and Magnolia Tips
- Spray with Wilt Pruf which will help the foliage stay green for longer (but eventually the greens will turn brown)
Check out the video below to see how it all comes together!
Winter Outdoor Planters can get very expensive which is why I do them myself. If you want something a little more extravagant than the pre-made arrangements that are for sale at lots of grocery and corner stores, the key is to reuse materials from year to year. I go foraging in the spring when everyone is discarding their planters and I salvage and then store birch logs, pine cones, coconut husks and any other accessory that won’t deteriorate. I have quite a cache in my garage! I did invest in a large grapevine ball which is expensive but because I reuse it every year it was well worth it.
SIMPLE BACKYARD WINTER OUTDOOR PLANTERS
Materials:
- 2 Bunches Silver Fir
- 1 large Grapevine ball
- Cedar and Magnolia Tips (Optional – leftover from front planters)
- Copper LED lights
- 5-6 large sticks to anchor the ball into the soil
Instructions:
- Start with soil filled containers
- It’s OK to keep leftover trailing Ivy from summer
- Trim Silver Fir branches into smaller pieces
- Surround base of winter outdoor planter with Silver Fir
- Fill in the surround of the base with any leftover Cedar
- Place Grapevine Ball in top of planter
- Add leftover Magnolia tips at the base of the ball.
- Add lights to ball
- Anchor the ball into soil with any bamboo sticks or other decorative sticks with ornaments that you have to ensure the ball doesn’t blow away on a cold windy day.
- Spray with Wilt Pruf which will help the foliage stay green for longer (but eventually the greens will turn brown)
Check out this video on how easy it is!
That’s it – Enjoy! And please share…I’d love to see your winter outdoor planter creations.
If you want to check out other winter outdoor planters I’ve created in the past, check out this Pretty Winter Containers link or this Front Door Winter Planter link. There’s some variations in what I do and some ideas I like to repeat. For ideas during other seasons, I have also posted an Easy Spring Planters Video link and Pretty Summer Garden Pots link. Finally, if growing vegetables is of interest, I’ve got a whole bunch of posts about that. You can start with these on Sprouting Seeds or this one on Planting Vegetables.
Absolutely gorgeous! With such clear instructions, photos and video, maybe it is really possible for me to do something like this??!! ⭐️
how did you attach picks /sticks to the pinecones in order to stick into the soil or starfoam in urn
Pine cones can be purchased from nurseries or green grocers with the stick attached (which is what I did). But, you can use a hot glue gun to attach the pine cone if you that equipment and want to do it yourself. The whole arrangement was done in soil, and once complete I watered it so it would freeze into place. Goodluck!
How tall are the birch logs you used?
Great question! I used 4 and 5 feet birch logs because my planter containers are very tall. You can use shorter ones if your planter doesn’t have as much height. Hope this helps.
what kind of lights are in the ball? are they battery operated? Can you provide a link? so lovely!!!!!
I used indoor/outdoor, “Luca Lighting” battery powered warm white Copper LED Bundle (64 Lights, with timer). Depending on how big your ball is, you can use one or two sets of lights.
Beautiful! I’d like to know if you spray the greenery before or after you arrange?
Thank you! Yes, after completing the arrangement I spray it with Wilt Pruf which is supposed to preserve it for longer. But eventually it will turn brown unfortunately.
Beautiful! Where would I find magnolia leaves/bunches?
Thanks! Magnolia tips are sold at garden centres, grocers, florists & most places where you can buy Christmas trees. They are everywere at this time of year. (beautiful & a bit pricey – but worth it)
Très joli
Beautiful pots. I am making an indoor winter pot for the lobby of my condominium building. I may use some of your ideas, but as this is indoors, I have to use faux greenery. I made a fall pot, and as I didn’t have any dirt, I used hard foam and chicken wire to adhere the branches and leaves. I’m debating using any natural materials in my winter pot as it will be inside and probably not the safest place to use natural materials. my daughter has a magnolia bush. Would it be safe for me to trim branches off this bush without killing it I love the looks of the magnolia leaves and what I’d like to do is put them in glycerin in order to be able to use them for more than one year. What are your thoughts on this?
I too love the look of magnolia leaves. I wish I could advise you on your question. I don’t know if trimming the branches would affect your daughters magnolia. I suggest you google it. I am flattered that you may use some of my ideas. Goodluck with the indoor arrangement. I’m sure it will be gorgeous!
What’s the diameter is the grapevine ball n where did u purchase it at?
Hi Angela It’s 18 inches and I purchased mine at my local garden center. They are pricey but if you use them every year, it’s worth it. Goodluck!