Extension for Real Life

Container Gardening for Cold Weather

Video by Michaela Parker

Container gardening is a quick and easy way to spruce up your front porch during the fall and winter months! My favorite cold weather plant is the pansy. They’re easy to take care of and they bring the perfect amount of color to any landscape. They also act as the perfect spiller plant for a ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ styled container.

Pairing pansies with dusty miller and ornamental kale make for a perfect cold-weather container. The dusty miller serves as the thriller of the group. The height and distinct color of the dusty miller serves as the focal point of the container. Ornamental kale is a great option to help fill the majority of the pot. You can also try using ornamental cabbage as your filler!

It’s best to plant in a plastic pot as opposed to a clay pot to avoid having your container freeze and crack. Place the container in a spot where it gets plenty of sunlight.

Be sure to keep our Extension publication on protecting plants from cold temperatures handy.

You never know when a hard freeze will happen in the South!

If you'd like more information, check out Extension horticulturist Dr. Gary Bachman's tips on container gardening in his Southern Gardening column.

And remember to prepare your landscape and home for colder temperatures with tips from our blog post “Winterize Your Home Now!"