A winter container garden is one of the easiest ways to bring beauty, texture, and rich seasonal color to your porch or patio—even when no flowers are blooming in PA. With fresh evergreens and outdoor-grade accents, you can create a long-lasting design that thrives through freezing temperatures and stays gorgeous straight into spring.
At Perfect Pots, we’ve been creating winter container gardens for over 17 years, testing and perfecting a method that keeps pots full, lush, and eye-catching all season long. Below, we’re sharing our exact “recipe”—the same steps our designers use every day—so you can create your own evergreen container garden with confidence.
And if you’d love a little extra support along the way, join one of our Winter Potting Workshops for hands-on guidance from our design team!
Step 1 — Fill Your Pot to the Top for Full, Sag-Free Designs
Every long-lasting winter container garden begins with the right foundation: the soil. Fill your pot, window box, or container all the way to the top—yes, right up to the rim! This keeps stems stable and prevents your evergreens from sinking, which is the number-one cause of flattened planters after the first freeze.
We recommend using our Perfect Pots potting mix, even though the greens aren’t rooted. Your evergreens still need to accept water and your container still needs proper drainage.
For more info on how to properly fill your frost-proof container, check out our blog post here.
*Pro tip: Press the soil down gently to settle it, but avoid packing it tightly.
Step 2 — Add Sticks or Branches for Height (Your “Thriller”)
Once your container is prepped, it’s time to add height—your “thriller” element. As a general guideline, we aim for branches about 1.5× the height of the pot (unless you have a very tall pot!), but you can adjust to fit your shape and style.
Great options include:
- Dogwood branches
- Birch branches
- Curly willow
- Naturally foraged sticks
- Colored or glittered branches from our greenhouse
These tall elements create a little drama and instantly define the center of your winter planter.
Step 3 — Load Up on Evergreens (More Than You Think!)
This is where the real magic happens. At Perfect Pots, our number-one winter planter tip is simple:
Use more evergreens than you think you need.
A fuller base creates a fuller, longer-lasting display.
Trim each long stem into 2–3 usable pieces, then insert them deeply so they can stand up to winter winds. Don’t worry about stripping lower needles—those extra textures actually help support the design.
Our team uses Fraser Fir as our base. Our favorite speciality greens for winter container gardens that will will sprinkle in include:
- Cedar Fir
- Boxwood
- Juniper Berry
- Arborvitae
- Magnolia
- Carolina sapphire
Just one or two of these specialty greens go a long way!
*Pro tip: Work quickly to fill in from all sides and don't over think it! You’ll be amazed in the end at how naturally the design comes together.
Step 4 — Finish with Outdoor-Grade Accents for Texture & Shine
Now comes the fun part—your accents! This is where your style and personality take shape.
We love using:
- Pinecones
- Berry branches
- Glitter branches
- Metallic or natural accents
- Ornaments
- Palm Caps
- Badam Pods
- Jingle Bells
- And lots more!
You can let your creativity run wild! But if you need help starting, you could choose a general vibe first—natural, colorful, minimal, glittery, rustic, or even themed after a holiday memory or favorite winter beverage (like designer Ali's Cozy Caramel Coffee planter below!). It will help your design feel intentional and cohesive.
One rule we never break at Perfect Pots:
Always choose outdoor-grade accents, like you'll find at our greenhouse.
This ensures your berries don’t fade, your glitter stays put, and your materials stand up to rain, snow, and sunshine.
Bonus — Add Twig Lights for Nighttime Magic
Winter nights arrive early in Pennsylvania, but your planters can still sparkle in the dark. Twig lights add a warm, inviting glow from late afternoon through the evening.
Again, you'll want to choose outdoor-grade lights for durability (available at our greenhouse!) and opt for battery-operated lights if no outlet is nearby.
Winter Pot Care Tips for Long-Lasting Beauty
Winter pots are wonderfully low-maintenance (especially if you used guaranteed frost-proof pots!), but you'll still want to tend them to keep your planter looking fresh.
Want to learn more about frost-proof pots? Check out our blog post here.
Perfect Pots Style: What Makes Our Winter Planters Stand Out
A quick recap of the Perfect Pots method:
- *Pro tip: start with a guaranteed frost-proof pot
- Fill container to the top with soil
- Add height with a well-sized branches
- Use more evergreens than you think
- Add a specialty green or two for extra dimension
- Choose outdoor-grade accents for beauty that lasts
- Add twig lights for nighttime glow
Prefer to leave the designing to us? We’re currently planting at homes and businesses across Lancaster, Berks and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania!
- Book a consultation to get on our winter planting calendar
- Or stop by the greenhouse with a photo of your porch or patio for complimentary design help
Winter container gardens bring so much joy, brightness, and life to the season—and we can’t wait to see your planters glistening all winter long.