Winter containers can brighten holiday season
Q I always like putting together some containers outdoors with a winter or Christmas theme. I am also thinking of what plants I can grow in my yard that would let me harvest some of the branches or berries to make my arrangements. I seem to recall several years ago you did offer some suggestions about what plants to use for the arrangements, but I cannot find the article I clipped. I was wondering if you would have any suggestions on plants that a person could grow that you could use to snip off stems for winter pots. Is it harmful to the plants to do a little pruning during the winter? Also, do you know if a person cuts cattails in the fall can you spray paint them to prevent them from bursting? I think they would look neat in Christmas displays, but I am not sure if you can preserve them.
A Your memory serves you well. After searching through my archives I found the article from 2010. There are many plants that can be very festive when used in outdoor pots for the holiday season. Here are some ideas for readily accessible and inexpensive additions to your decorative winter container. Pine, spruce or cedar boughs:
These can be pruned from your own trees (pruning spruce or pine in November or December is a good idea) or obtained from a friend with a garden. These boughs will remain green throughout the winter, adding colour, texture and form to a container. If your Christmas
tree needs some trimming don’t throw away the branches. Recycle by using the branches outdoors in your containers.
Cotoneaster branches: There are interesting branch forms, with berries for added interest, and some may even have leaves still attached. Cotoneaster leaves add wonderful colour.
Winterberry branches: Perhaps a little more difficult to find if you don’t grow your own, but available through some florists. They offer a great splash of colour from the bright red berries.
Mountain ash branches: Again, the berries make a strong and colourful addition to any container. Red- or yellow-twigged dogwood:
The lovely red and yellow colours are great for winterscapes. Rose branches with rose hips:
Many roses, including wild roses, form beautiful hips that have great colours. Explorer roses have some very colourful hips. Dried grasses such as giant moor
grass (Molinia caerulea): These add colour, shape and interest. If you don’t have access to grasses of your own, take a drive out into the country. Tall, dried grasses can be found close to many roadsides, but make sure you ask permission if you plan on harvesting some. Corkscrew willow or corkscrew
hazel: Although the willow is hardy to zone 4b and the hazel to zone 5, many prairie gardeners are growing these interesting shrubs in sheltered areas. If you don’t have one, the branches can be purchased in many florist shops or greenhouses. The unusual twisted shape adds visual punch to the container. The curves and twists are very appealing to the eye. Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.)
branches: The peeling, multilayered bark of the ninebark is a great addition to your minilandscape. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) branches: The thorns on the branches add interest. Many Russian olives keep the dead leaves on the branches during winter, and the grey-silver leaves add a great deal of interest to the container.
You can take cuttings off all of the plants I mention without harming them in the winter.
As for the cattails, you can preserve them by following some simple steps. After cutting the cattails, bundle them together and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place. Once dry, spray the heads with a clear lacquer or varnish — some people even use hairspray. Q I have a question regarding what water to use for my houseplants. We recently had a water softener and water distiller installed. Should I use the soft tap water, or should I use the distilled water?
A Softened water is not recommended for watering plants due to its higher sodium content. I would recommend using the distilled water.