by Antonia Williams

Created on: December 31, 2010

Attractive garden pots and containers are not just for the summer months: both the pots and the plants they contain can look great in winter too. There are three considerations: the compost, the plants and the containers themselves. You must think about what they look like and also how they will withstand whatever the weather throws at them, but you don't have to miss out on a great winter display!

Whatever the size or shape of your container, tip out the old compost if it has been previously used and fill the pot with multi-purpose or a loam-based compost. Peat-based composts are not recommended for winter as they tend to hold water, and therefore are more susceptible to freezing.

Large pots make a great statement in a relatively bare winter garden. With or without planting, decorative pots go a long way to livening up the view from your kitchen window, so choose your containers wisely.

Stone pots are attractive and hardy, but can be expensive and heavy to move once they are in place, so think carefully about where to place them. Traditional terracotta pots can be equally attractive, but can shatter in the frost – don’t be fooled by cheap imitations of the real thing.  Plastic pots are, of course, very cheap and come in all shapes and sizes. However, they are not always attractive in themselves and can lead to plant roots becoming waterlogged and frozen.

If you have pots already planted with plants you want to over-winter, move the pots to a sheltered spot in the garden – an unheated greenhouse or conservatory is ideal. Then take gardeners’ fleece, bubble-wrap, straw or even old newspapers and bind it around the pot, fastening with string, to keep the roots warm.

If the containers will be on display, think about painting them with outdoor paint to brighten up the garden – bold blues or reds will cheer up the darkest plot. Spray paints are quick and easy to use – how about gold and silver pots for a really sparkling winter display?  If you only have small pots, group them together to make a display.

Winter is not a time that you need to leave your containers empty. There are plenty of suitable plants to choose from – it just takes a little more imagination.

First choice is often the reliable winter-flowering pansy. Pansies are available from September onwards and will bloom until the first hard frosts. When the worst of the weather is over, they will perk up and give another flush of flowers well into the

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