Nothing says winter more than a pot full of greenery, red berries, and dried oranges! In this post I am going to give you step-by-step instructions so you can make your own winter planter! This is sure to be a conversation piece at your home this winter season!
Winter is one of my favorite times of the year, and it isn't just because it is the Christmas season; I love the winter weather.
This project is great to get you in the holiday spirit and it will brighten up your front door for the holidays! Keep reading to learn how you can make your own DIY winter planter.
How I made my winter planter
My planter that I used had basil growing in it over the summer so I repurposed it for this project. I pulled out the old plants, but I left the dirt in the bottom of the planter.
This dirt will keep your planter from blowing away and it will serve as a place to implant all the greenery. I then took a walk around the yard and through the woods to find my supplies.
To make a planter with your own materials you may need to get creative. I used what I could find in my yard and forest, but you may not have the same supplies.
Below you will find some ideas of things you could add to your planter. This is not an exhaustive list so get creative with you planter!
Greens for your winter planter
Below are some ideas of different greenery that you can find around your property to make your own winter planter. Remember that most of these plants will be sharp so make sure to wear some thick gloves when harvesting them.
Pine/spruce branches
This is a great base for your planter and really fills it in nice. For the outer edge of my planter I used some pine branches, but for the center I used some blue spruce because they stand up nice and straight.
Boxwood
If you need to prune your boxwood bushes you can also use that greenery for your planter! Just be mindful that this greenery will dry out fast.
Juniper bushes
Juniper branches are a great addition to your winter planter especially with their juniper berries and wonderful scent.
Holly branches
Holly is one of the most well known Christmas greeneries. They have a really bright green and red color that really pops.
Yew branches
Yew branches usually have red berries on them along with the greenery so they can look nice in a planter. Remember that yew berries and branches are poisonous so be careful!
Colorful items for your winter planter
Here are some things you can add to your winter planter to give it some color and really make it pop. If you cannot find items outdoors, you can always buy some inexpensive cranberries or oranges to add to your planter.
Dogwood
For my pot I added some structure and color with dogwood branches. Where I live there is a lot of dogwood bushes growing in low lying areas and they turn a stunning red in winter.
I have a few growing along our forest line, so I just took a few snips and added them to my pot.
Red berries
There are many different trees and bushes that have red berries growing on them. For my planter I found some red viburnum berries on a wild bush. I snipped a few off and added them to the planter.
My berries have a bright red color, but even some burgundy colored berries would look great in your planter. Keep in mind that many berries are poisonous, so don't eat any.
Cranberries
If you can't find any wild berries in your yard, you can buy a bag of cranberries and string them to hang in your pot. The birds might even take a nibble at these berries.
Dried Orange Slices
Oranges offer an old fashion Christmas look to your pot. I took a naval orange and dried it to place in my pot. To dry mine I simply placed the orange slices on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet in a 2000F oven for a few hours.
Other structure items for your planter
Here are some other items you can add to your planter to give it structure and beauty. Again get creative and find some items around your property.
Dried Hydrangea Flowers
Hydrangea flowers naturally dry on the plant and turn brown. You can add a few of these to your pot to give it some structure.
Popcorn
White popcorn will really pop (pun intended) in your planter full of greenery. You can place these in the branches or string them up to place in your pot. The wildlife will enjoy the extra food! You can even grow your own popcorn to use in the planter.
Dried seed heads
If you have any cool looking seed heads you could also add these to your pot. Dried okra pods have a great and unique shape that would look great in a planter.
Pinecones
As long as you are adding some greenery to your pot, why not add some pine cones along with it.
How to assemble a winter planter
Once you have all your materials follow these steps to assemble your winter planter. You can always add extra materials later on in the process if you feel the need to.
Step 1
You need to find a planter that you can use to add your materials to. I used a summer planter that had basil growing in it. If you don't have a pot you can use, you can buy them here.
I pulled out the dead plants, but I made sure to leave the soil in place. Your pot is probably dusty so make sure to wipe it off!
Step 2
Start adding your greenery to your pot by poking it into the soil. You may need to pull the needles off the lower branches to make them go into the soil.
I went in a circular pattern working from the outside and slowly going inward with the branches. Place the tallest branches in the center of the pot to give it a rough dome shape.
Step 3
Once you are happy with the amount of greenery in your pot you can start to add in your structure items. I used my dogwood branches, but you can add whatever you have available.
I placed these red branches in the middle of the pot and allowed them to go above the greenery.
Step 4
Finally it's time to add in your colorful items to really make your planter stand out. I added my bright red viburnum berries to the pot.
I could have left it at this stage, but I decided to add in some orange slices to give my planter even more color.
Step 5
Now you get to enjoy your pot! I placed mine on the back porch, so that we could see it from the dining room.
Your planter would look great next to your front door, garage, or really anywhere around your home! Don't be surprised when everyone comments on how great your winter planter looks!
How long will my winter planter last
It really depends on the weather. If the weather is cool your pot is going to last longer, because the cool weather preserves the branches.
Your pot should last you through the Christmas season and if the weather is right it will last all winter!
What if I cannot find any materials
If you have a small yard and don't have access to any of these materials you can still make a winter pot. You can ask neighbors for some pine branches by offering to prune the lower branches of their pine trees.
You could also ask someone with a forest if you could forage some berries and branches to decorate with.
If you cannot find anyone willing to give you some materials, you could go to a local Christmas tree farm and ask them for tree scraps or buy some greenery and berries from them.
You will save money even if you buy the materials and make a winter planter yourself.
2024 Update and pictures
This year I made another planter, but I changed some things. I got battery operated lights for my pot. You can find similar ones right here.
These lights have a built in timer so they come on right before sunset. They also have a mode where the lights glisten!
I also added in some preserved eucalyptus and dried yarrow flowers. This planter really stands out at out night when the lights glisten.
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