Late fall’s freezing temperatures disrupted my planting customers’ containers for winter. All total, there were 21 containers that were frozen. One was able to move the container indoors for a couple of days, which allowed it to thaw.
What alternative do you have when the potting soil in pots is frozen and you can’t stick in the winter greenery? So frozen that you can’t even pull out most of the fall plants.
I pulled out what I could and broke off plants from the frozen soil or used my garden knife to cut them off. Then I placed a plain wreath on top of the soil ($11 at Trader Joe’s, $20 at Costco, $22 at Sullivan Hardware and Garden). You could also use a wreath already decorated or decorate your own.
Instead of poking, try weaving
Because I couldn’t stick the stems into the soil, I scooted or wove them underneath the wreath to give the pot a fuller look with greenery draping over the edge. I continued adding greenery on the edge of the pot and toward the middle. I used incense cedar and cone cedar to drape over the Port Orford and western cedar to add more color and texture.
The hardest part of this technique is the middle. For one client, I put tree tops in the center. With a long screwdriver and rubber mallet, if made a hold large and deep enough to hold the tree top. I then decorated the trees. Lotus seed heads and pine cones covered the soil in the center.
Decent solution for frozen pots
This alternative worked out fairly well. This is only the second time I’ve had pots freeze before I could put in the winter arrangement. Then I didn’t have as many to do and I brought several home to thaw in my kitchen
