During the cold months of January and February, bald tree branches and bare mulched flowerbeds make the landscape appear bleak and inhospitable. What to do? Add the warmth of color to the cold gray months with winter container gardens. Winter container gardening is a beautiful way to dress up the front of the house, patio, or deck. And it isn’t difficult to do. Follow this easy 1-2-3 process:

1. Choose the right container
You’ll need a frost proof pot with a drainage hole. Avoid ceramic or terracotta – they can crack and crumble in extreme cold.  Betters bets are metal, wood, fiberglass, thick plastic, stone, or concrete. Bigger is better – ideally your container should be at least 22 inches deep to provide enough insulation for the plants.

2. Get ready to pot.
In dry winter air, extra moisture will help retain warmth. A soil mix containing sphagnum moss and peat works well. So does mixing in polymer granules. You can also mix in several tablespoons of a super-absorbent gel to hold water. Cover drainage holes with weedmat. Plant higher rather than deeper. Always water with cold water. Mulch with a 2-inch layer of shredded hardwood mulch.

3. Choose the right plants
Start with centerpieces like ornamental cabbage and flowering kale. Add variegated sage and rainbow chard. Next, plant smaller flowering plants to add a splash of color. Hellebores (Christmas or Lenten Rose varieties) and Heuchera (aka Cora Bells) have pretty blossoms that are tough to kill. Finally, some variegated trailing ivy or colorful sedges gracefully spilling over the sides of the container will draw attention to the focal point of the display.

For bigger containers, annual grasses, small holly shrubs, and dwarf pines and junipers make fine choices. You can also cut branches of orange winterberry to add a punch of color.

Now place your pots. Northern exposures are better than eastern, and northwestern exposures should be avoided.

You’re done! By following these simple guidelines, you may find winter a whole lot brighter and maybe you’ll even be a little less anxious for spring.