Right now, the earth is quiet.  Winter is upon us and there isn’t much going on in our yard and garden areas.  Let’s talk about adding some décor to our stark and barren landscape planters.  If you think it takes a lot of decorative talent to create unusual and inexpensive garden containers then you would be wrong. 

Below we are going to show you examples of simple, easy, and cheap ways to “dress up” your garden pottery that are doable no matter if you have flower arranging skills or not.  So, let’s dive right in.

One great tip for most of these planters is the word “stuff”.  We recommend that this not be the time you skimp on materials.  When you are filling empty planters for winter, you need to fill them with as many decorative items as you can.  The more the merrier is really germane here.  So, stuff them up!

Berry Branches:  A natural yet simple terracotta garden pot is crammed with all kinds of assorted plant materials.  The main theme is dark green and red.  Fill the pot with branches of assorted conifers, graceful cedar, spiky holly, and juniper.  Drape limp branches over the sides and stand stiff sticks in the center to create height and flow.  Once finished with all the greens, place the berry branches with emphasis on different heights.  You don’t need a lot here just splats of color nestled among the branches.  Simple, natural and truly superb.

Feathers & Pods:  A small low-profile planter is filled with all kinds of fun objects with very little emphasis on greens.  The evergreens are almost an afterthought.  Place bundles of cinnamon sticks, pinecones, moss balls, quail feathers inside the garden bowl till it is filled.  Add bundles of dried pots and curly willow around the bundles.  Finish by adding a sprig or two of limp cedar and eucalyptus in and around the bundles.  Just push anything you can find laying in the yard or around the patio into and between the bigger items.  This is planter arrangement is perfect for a patio table or porch area.

Wire Sphere & Twinkle Lights:  This winter garden urn is for the person who wants elegance for little fuss.  Any empty planter works great for this look.  Purchase a wire sphere from any craft store.  String little twinkle lights around it and that is pretty much it.  Make sure the home and garden urns are placed near an electrical outlet or that one is located close by.  Plug it in and you have an imaginative, impressive and really inexpensive decorative vase.

Winter Window Box Planter:  Another really easy idea to copy.  Take green spruce or graceful cedar branches and start on the outside and front first.  Place the branches inside the planter with the ends sticking out the side and draping over the front of the window.  Then add the top and center, following the same thing.  Just keep sticking branches in until you get the look you want.  Once all branches are mixed together, they will create a woven pattern which helps to keep them all from moving.  Then top them off with a few branches of pussy willow. It adds softness and texture to the overall window box.

We hope these few ideas can help you to create artistic garden planters for your porch, patio, home or garden areas.  Just because it’s pretty sparse outside doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up a bit!  Share your thoughts below. We love to hear from you!