Quick & Easy is the name of the game this year for the holidays and nothing is quicker or easier than these winter porch pots!
I was just a little bit lazy (quick and easy, remember) and didn't want to get my fingers all sappy, so I grabbed my greens at the nursery. But you could just as easily trim your own backyard evergreens for what you need.
And don't forget, Home Depot and Lowes will often give you some Christmas tree cuttings if you ask them nicely.
Look! I got all fancy on you and made my tutorial into a video!!!
Just click below to watch the step-by-step action.
If you prefer, you can watch an ad-free version of this tutorial on my YouTube Channel HERE.
Or if you prefer to rock it old school, here it is in writing.
How To Make Winter Porch Pots
Gather your supplies:
- Pot Of Dirt
- Curly Willow, Twigs or Winterberry
- Noble Fir
- Pine
- Cedar
- Juniper
You can either fill a pot with soil or, if you have a fall container planter still sitting around (no judging here), you can prune the mums to the ground and use that to anchor your plants.
Dead mums actually make a nice firm base to stick stuff into. Natures own styrofoam.
Insert twigs into center of pot. You want to push them down far enough for them to be steady. Without getting out my tape measure, I would say 3-4 inches.
Place two large branches of noble fir in the back of the pot.
With smaller branches stuck toward the front.
Insert pine branches throughout the pot. These will fill in the pot nicely.
Insert your cedar so it drapes over the edges of the pot.
Randomly insert your juniper in the pot for a bit of color (love those little blue berries).
Water in your evergreens (don't worry, you only need to do this once, you won't be tied to the watering can). As the water freezes it will set your evergreens in place.
You can add a large pine cone for added effect. I believe they call these big guys sugar pine cones.
A nice large jingle bell or bow would also look pretty.
I inserted my winter porch pots into my peach/bushel baskets on the porch for a more rustic farmhouse look.
You could also use black urns for a more traditional look. Or a galvanized tub or bucket for a more galvanized tub or bucket look.
Just depends on the formality level you are going for!
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Shop the look:
Tomorrow I will be showing you the rest of my porch along with a group of porch loving friends, so stop back by tomorrow for a mug of cocoa and a bit of porch eye candy.
Update: My full porch tour is available HERE. Here's a little sneak peek for you!
More Winter Porch Pots
If you are looking for more winter porch container ideas, you can see my Birch Log and Winterberry Holiday Planters HERE
and my simple Pine Cone and Cedar urns HERE.
And I've scoured the internet to find you 20 Beautiful Winter Planter Ideas if you are still looking for more GORGEOUS inspiration.
Check out the web story version of this article HERE.
Vickie
Beautiful, Pam! I'm Pinning this and hoping I can find fresh greens in town. Thanks for the tutorial!
Pam
You are welcome! Living up in the tundra up there I would think you could walk across the street to the forest and borrow some greens from the local bears.
Diane
So pretty Pam! Thank you for providing a bit of peace and calm. I feel compelled to share with you that as soon as I heard of the tragedy at Ohio State, I immediately texted my husband, who is a deputy sheriff in our county. Sadly, there was a similar attack not long ago at a mall in St. Cloud, MN. The current police chief there formerly served as the chief deputy of our department. So very sad and frightening each and every time. Thank you again for forging ahead! Always brightens my day when I see another of your posts in my inbox!
Pam
And they keep getting more and more frequent don't they! Luckily no one besides the attacker died this time.
Kim K.
Your front porch looks fabulous. Love all the mix of textures. We haven't touched any of our outdoor decorations yet at our house (Aframe...yes...house...no). I suppose we had better get busy before more rain and snow arrive.
Pam
No big blow molds on the porch yet? The weather has been so nice here the last few days it makes me want to put more lights up. But then I remember that in January it will be -10 degrees and I'll be cussing when I have to take them down 🙂
chris aka monkey
of all the porches in all of the world I love yours the best, this pot is gorgeous and I am looking forward to the porch tour xx
Pam
Ah, thank you! I hope I don't disappoint 🙂
Rebecca
Hi Pam! This is Rebecca from Monrovia Plants. I love this video! Do you think you can upload this to your Facebook page so that we can share this as a video post from you?
Pam
Oh, thank you Rebecca! I'll post it right now!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
This is beautiful, Pam! Thank you for posting it...I was sorry to hear about the attack at Ohio State, too...we could use a little beauty in the world...
Sue Pagels
Looks great!! Mine don't look so pretty! I do have pine trees, and red twig dogwood, a few pinecones, but no juniper or cedar which would be lovely!
Ashlyn
Love this!! I am going to have to make this!
Amber
Hi! This is beautiful! How long will the greens last? Thanks!
Pam
I made these last November, probably a week before Thanksgiving, and they lasted into February. I finally just got tired of them being on my porch. The key is to use fresh greenery and to water them into the dirt when you first make them. They need that bit of water in the beginning to keep them hydrated through the winter.
Cheryl
I make these too but..and add red berries from the outside they grow wold every where and we have holly trees that have the berries on tem too... These are pretty...
Susan
Love this Pam! We are kindred spirits. I love gardening, anything vintage, and I'm addicted to Coke Zero! Coffee? Blah! I really enjoy your blog. I planted a Winterberry bush in my yard for the red berries, but the birdies eat them before I can use them to decorate with! Part of the fun of gardening. Happy Holidays!
Kim
What size pot did you use for the simple pot w the large pine cone?
Amy
Where did you get your large bushel basket? Love!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Sara
Hi Pam! Those are gorgeous! Can you tell me where you found that basket in the first image
Thanks, sara
Angela
Good morning. I just came across your site and love your posts on winter porch pots. Thank you so much for sharing. I do have a question though. As we are entering the fall & winter seasons, how often, if at all do I need to water these. One of the planters I plan to put together will be sitting on my walkway and will be exposed to the elements and the other will be somewhat under my porch.
Pam Kessler
Depending where you live you might just need to water them in once. That is what I do here in Ohio where the water will then freeze and be enough to last through to well past Christmas. Mine starts to brown and brittle around Valentine's Day.
Ann roberts
Where can i get the basket? The arrangements are so heartwarming even tho its very cold here. Thank you
Pam Kessler
I've always found them at yard sales for a couple dollars, but they have some vintage ones on etsy right now. Just look under bushel basket or orchard basket and a few will come up.
Or if you want brand new ones, I searched around and found an online company called Agri Supply that looks like they have them. They are much more reasonably priced than etsy, but they would be a lighter color since they're brand new and never been out in the weather before. If you really liked the weathered look you could always look on Pinterest for a way to weather baskets.