Winter Container Gardens: Live vs. Cut
Live container gardens can include, but are certainly not limited to: ornamental grasses, small conifers such as Alberta spruce (Picea glauca), heather (Calluna), wintergreen (Gaultheria) and pansies. Use the concept of “thrillers, fillers and spillers” when creating a container display: thrillers being the taller centerpiece, fillers being what surrounds the thriller, and spillers grow over the edge of the container.
Containers using fresh cut plant material are not as long-lived but can be fun, spontaneous and whimsical. Options of what to include are numerous: fresh cut evergreen boughs, red- or yellow-stemmed dogwood, stems or branches from willow, birch or other trees with attractive bark. The best part is adding in finds from your own garden: an empty bird’s nest, a fallen branch with the cones or fall color still on it, even stones or rocks. Even though these don’t need to grow, it’s important to fill the container with something heavy, like rocks at the bottom and then fill in with soil, so that the stems have something to hold them in and the container will have weight and won’t blow over.
As a final touch for both types of containers, adding ornaments and/or twinkle lights can really make your creations shine – especially on dark days and early nights!
Living Christmas Trees
Living Christmas trees can be a focal point in your home and in your garden for years to come. When brought inside, place your tree in a water-tight container like a decorative tub or pail. Water your tree thoroughly and keep the root ball moist during the entire time it is inside. When decorating, keep in mind this is a living tree and more care should be taken. Small, cool “twinkle lights” are recommended. For the health of the tree, it shouldn’t be inside for more than 5 to 7 days.
When it’s time to bring your living tree outside, take it to a cool, ventilated place (garage or porch) for 10 to 12 days to acclimate to the cold before planting it into the ground. It is still important to keep the root ball moist during this time! After the acclimation period, dig a hole larger than the root ball, set the root ball into the hole so that the top is slightly below the ground level. Fill the hole with soil and firm it around the plant to eliminate air pockets. Then soak it thoroughly, watering weekly until it’s established.
