Looking for the best way to protect and care for your potted evergreens from winter’s cold, snow and ice?
Evergreens are one of the best ways to bring life to the outdoors. Their bright green needles can often seem like the only splash of color in a sea of winter whites and greys. Although many gardeners plant evergreens directly into their landscape – they can also be incredible as a potted plant.
Quite simply, potted evergreens take winter interest to a whole new level! Evergreens that grow in pots can be placed anywhere. In addition, they can be dressed up a bit as well with bows, wraps, or even a few lights and ornaments to liven up paths, entryways, patios, porches, decks and more.
Potted evergreens also have the advantage of filling your landscape with greenery the whole year round. The same pots that bring winter interest also add beauty in the spring, summer and fall as well. Talk about some wonderful multi-purpose landscape plants!
Unfortunately, many gardeners shy away from growing evergreens in pots because of the worry of winter care. But here’s the good news – it isn’t difficult! Nor does it have to be labor intensive or time consuming to care for the plants through the winter months.
With that in mind, here is a look at how to successfully care for your potted evergreens this winter, including which evergreens are best for handling winter in a container!
How To Protect Potted Evergreens In The Winter – With Ease!
When it comes to keeping evergreens in containers healthy and alive, it all starts with selecting the best varieties to grow for your climate.
Evergreens that grow in pots will not have the same level of protection as ones growing in the ground. When growing directly in the landscape, the roots of evergreens are protected by the surrounding soil. Because of this, the ground freezes and thaws slowly, guarding the plant from serious injury.
When growing potted evergreens, the roots of plants are more exposed in the winter. Frigid temperatures can quickly freeze soil solid and at lower temperatures. That means any evergreen you grow needs to be able to withstand the cold even more.
It’s not the act of freezing that will harm them. It’s if they constantly freeze, thaw and refreeze. The real key to protecting them is to allowing them to freeze and thaw more slowly.
Know Your Growing Zone – How To Protect Potted Evergreens In The Winter
To ensure overwintering success, select evergreens that go one lower range than your climate zone. As an example, if you live in USDA Zone 5, select evergreens to a minimum of USDA zone 4. By selecting one zone lower, your potted plants should be able to endure the winter with ease.
As for the hardiest evergreens to pick, most Junipers can handle USDA growing zones of 2 & 3 through 7. Arborvitae and many dwarf pines are good down to USDA Growing Zone 3, while Boxwoods can go as low as USDA zone 4, but are best to zone 5.
Some excellent examples of evergreens that work well in cold climates are Blue Star Juniper, Dwarf Mugo Pines And North Star Boxwoods. Blue Star Juniper shrubs have incredible sparkling blue foliage on branches that spread out to add big color. Dwarf Mugo Pines are a slow-growing compact shrubby pine that adds a unique look and texture.
Boxwoods are always a big winner for adding thick, easy to shape greenery that fill pots with lasting beauty. One of our favorites is the North Star which works well to zones 5. Affiliate Plant Link: Proven Winners North Star Boxwood Shrub
Make Sure Your Plants Have Space – How To Protect Potted Evergreens In The Winter
Another big key to protecting potted evergreens is giving them enough room. No matter what type of evergreen you grow, it’s extremely important to give them plenty of growing space in their container. Especially when you are trying to protect them over the cold winter months.
For potted evergreens, that means giving them plenty of soil space around their root ball. How much space is enough? A good rule of thumb is to make sure the root ball of your plant is only 1/2 of the size of the container.
The extra soil around the root ball helps to insulate the root ball from sudden freezing and thawing. It also helps give the evergreen plenty of room to grow and expand. The added benefit is you won’t need to replant your evergreens often either!
Watering In The Winter – How To Protect Potted Evergreens In The Winter
Evergreens need water. Especially evergreens that grow in containers. And yes, even in the winter! Evergreens do not have the luxury of going dormant in the winter like many other perennial shrubs and bushes. Instead, they slow their growth down to conserve resources – but they still require moisture to survive.
One of the best things you can do for evergreens in pots is to give them a thick, fresh coat of mulch. A two to three inch top coat of mulch can help to conserve moisture throughout winter. In addition, water your evergreens in the winter months as temperatures allow.
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As long as the soil is not frozen and the temperatures are above freezing, container plants should be watered lightly every seven to ten days. This will help to keep their roots and foliage hydrated, and the plant’s health in tact.
It’s also important in the winter to make sure the drainage holes on your pots are free and clear. Ice can jam up under planters, and if excess water can’t drain away, the roots will suffer from having too much moisture around them.
Locating Plants For Success – How To Protect Potted Evergreens In The Winter
Finally, where you place your potted evergreens in the winter months will also play a big role in their overall health. Keep containers from being out in wide open spaces. It not only protects them from harsh winds and the elements, it also protects them from receiving too much sunlight.
In the winter, partial sun is always a better choice than full sun for evergreens in containers. Evergreen foliage can dry out quickly with winter sun. Even worse, the sun can quickly heat up the container’s soil and trick it into full growth mode. And when that happens, a sudden cold snap can then spell trouble!
For best results, try to locate your evergreen pots in areas that have built in protection. Against a side of the house, on a covered porch, or even next to a deck are all great options. These areas will help the plant from receiving the brunt of harsh winter weather.
And remember to give your evergreens that are growing in the ground some help for winter too. At the very least, a fall or early winter layer of mulch will give them some extra insulation. See our article: What To Do With Rhododendrons Before Winter.
Here is to adding big interest to your winter landscape with potted evergreens – and to keeping them in great shape all winter long!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!