flowers on the spot

Beat the blahs with these easy, colorful containers you can plant now.

The colors of winter are often subtle and subdued. Make a bold statement by including the vibrant hues of violas in your containers. It's easy and adds a vivid splash of color to your deck or patio. "I've found that violas don't require a whole lot of maintenance to keep looking good all winter long," says JoAnn Breland, horticulturist with the City of Charleston. "Violas keep their shape and color all season and don't require deadheading to continue blooming. Believe me; that's a good thing."

Pot Basics

To create a container for winter color, start with a terra-cotta pot. Add sand or wood chips at the bottom to help drain off excess water, and then fill with a light potting mix. Regardless of the container you use, make sure there are adequate drainage holes. Group pots for easier maintenance and to create more visual impact.

Now add an evergreen centerpiece, such as boxwood or arborvitae, to give your container height and provide a good backdrop for highlighting seasonal color. This will also make it easy to change the look throughout the year simply by switching out your annuals. Next, add a trailing plant, such as English ivy or vinca, to soften the edges of the container.

Adding Interest

A little bit of color can go a long way to brighten a winter landscape, but using the right plants is the secret. "I used to plant thousands of pansies every year," says JoAnn, "and then spend the rest of the season dead-heading the blooms. They put all their energy into one big long-stemmed bloom and then start looking scraggly if they're not plucked off."

Now JoAnn prefers using violas as the base for all her mass plantings, because they're just as hardy as pansies and look good all season. "I love all the violas," says JoAnn. "They're just as cute as can be. But I really like the Sorbet Hybrids. They have short stems that keep them looking nice, and the colors are incredible." Try 'Coconut' or 'Blue Heaven' for beautiful winter blooms.

Violas also look great mixed with edibles, such as chard, kale, and parsley. These add texture and color to your containers while offering a culinary treat. Also try mixing in perennials such as Spanish lavender or heuchera for more color.

A Dose of Love

The keys to keeping your plants looking nice all winter are starting out with good soil and keeping it that way. JoAnn loads up her containers every fall with manure and peat and then sprinkles in blood meal. "I like to add things that will help build my soil over time," she says. "Blood meal gives my violas and other plants a boost of nitrogen immediately and also adds minerals." JoAnn stays away from slow-release chemical fertilizers in the winter because they require temperatures above 70 degrees to release their nutrients.

Another key to good-looking winter containers is using the right mulch. A straw or leaf mulch keeps the roots insulated and prevents erosion. "I like a mulch that will break down in one season," says JoAnn, "so that the soil is getting more organic matter and my plants look even better next year."

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jan 2005
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