10 Steps to A Festive Planter

Lots of different types of branches; real, painted and faux, and a big bow is fun to make.

Add faux flowers, like a bunch of poinsettias.

Or add an ornament. Do whatever you like with what you have available.

​Being creative and making a seasonal planter is a great way to thwart winter's bleak, grey skies. If you already have some planters outside that look sad, just add some evergreen boughs, maybe some ornaments and battery operated fairy lights, and voila, it’s done.
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If you don’t have an existing planter to doll-up, use any container large enough to accommodate some branches. Fill with evergreen boughs, twiggy branches and berry stems. Add some pine cones, a weatherproof bow and anything else that suits your fancy. Don’t know how to make a pretty bow? Check out the dollar stores – they have all kinds. 

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Festive Planter Steps

Step 1: Choose a planter without drainage holes. It should be sturdy to be able to support the many branches.

Step 2: To support stems and branches, place numerous upright empty cans to cover the bottom of the planter or half fill the planter with mulch or potting soil.

Step 2: Use mulch at the bottom of the container to hold the stems upright. Or use cans.

Step 3: Add floral oasis, or mulch or potting soil into the container so it is  3/4 full. Moisten the mulch or soil.  Add water to the cans in temperate climates where it doesn't freeze, or omit the water altogether. It's best to use mulch or soil for areas that freeze. ​

Step 4: Place shorter evergreen boughs in first to cover the base of the arrangement. Be generous as it not only looks better when its full of lush foliage, they help keep everything upright. 

Step 4: Lush evergreen stems cover the base and stabilize any additional branches and ornaments.

Step 5: Add more branches from other evergreens including evergreen magnolias, yews, boxwood, pines, junipers etc.

Step 5: Select evergreens with different textures for a more appealing look.

Step 6: Follow with interesting and colourful stems: red twig dogwood, Emerald & Gold wintercreeper, curly willow, Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, Stewartia and white birch. 

Step 6: Emerald & Gold wintercreeper adds colour and another texture.

Step 7: Spray paint does a great job converting boring bare stems into colourful vertical accents. Same goes for evergreen branches; they take spray paint quite well. Turn green evergreen branches, gold, silver - any colour you like. 

Step 7: Save money and spray paint branches.

Step 8: Use dried hydrangeas, leaves, ornamental grasses, interesting seed heads and pine cones. Go for the natural look or spray paint them gold, silver or any colour you fancy.

Dried hydrangea and fresh yew, painted gold.

Step 9: Add stems of red holly berries or purple beauty berries or purchase faux ones from a dollar store.

Use real or silk berry stems to add a splash of colour.

Step 10:​ Add ornaments, or just finish it off with a simple bow. For nighttime sparkle I like to use battery operated Christmas lights