How to plant winter containers | House & Garden

Snowdrops work well in a mixed planting in a container, but equally well planted as a group on their own

Growing plants in containers, whatever the time of year, will bring colour and interest to the garden, particularly in small spaces, but in winter pots of flowers and foliage are especially useful, helping to lift the spirits while benefiting foraging insects out looking for nectar and pollen.

Before deciding what you want to plant in your winter display, first consider the type of container you will need. When buying a clay or terracotta pot, choose one labelled frost-proof, rather than frost-resistant, which should ensure that it makes it through the winter without cracking when temperatures fall.

Those made from fibreglass, metal, or recycled plastic should also be able to withstand frost, while most wooden planters will last a few winters and look more naturalistic. Choose a container from the huge range of different styles and colours on offer that complements your garden design and plant choices. Also ensure that it has drainage holes, or that you are able to make some, in the bottom to prevent the compost becoming waterlogged, rotting the plants’ roots and, in freezing conditions, potentially damaging the container.

Choosing plants is a matter of personal taste, but it is good to have a theme, combining those in complementary or contrasting colours and forms, and perhaps adding a few scented varieties to create a stunning, long-lasting display. Options could include foliage plants such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’, grasses, and heucheras, or ivies, sedges and ferns in shadier spots, together with flowers or berries to add a touch of colour. Winter-flowering plants such as cyclamen, heathers, hellebores,