Protect Outdoor Pottery For The Winter
The outdoor pottery that you have around your home must be given special attention as winter approaches. The type of plants that you have in the pottery will determine how you prepare it for winter. Below, you will learn how to take care of pottery with perennials and annuals planted in them.
Pottery with Annuals
To protect your pottery with annual plants in them from becoming damaged during the winter you must:
- Remove the plants from the pottery.
- Dump the soil into buckets with lids so that you can store the soil until spring. If you don't have any buckets, you can put one black garbage bag inside another and dump the soil in there. Tie it up tightly, and it will be ready to use when the weather breaks.
- Use your garden hose to rinse the pottery out well.
- Now, mix 1/8 cup of chlorine with 5 gallons of water in a tote and place the pottery in the mixture. For larger pottery, pour the mixture inside and let it sit. Soak the pottery for a few hours and then rinse well. This will kill any bacteria that is present to keep it from damaging the pottery or contributing to your plants getting sick next year.
- Turn the pottery upside-down to dry. Place a small block of wood or a stone under one side of the rim to allow for air to get inside and dry it out.
- After the pottery has dried, crumble newspaper and put it inside.
- Find a box large enough to fit the pottery inside with a little extra room left over. Fill the gaps with packing popcorn or crumpled newspaper to protect it from the cold winter temperatures.
- Store the pot in a dry area until spring.
Pottery with Perennials
Pots that have perennials planted in them don't have to be emptied for winter storage. Instead use the method below.
Trim the tops of the plants off and discard. As you trim the plants, be sure to hold the base of the plant firmly to prevent damage to the roots.
Pour mulch into the top of the pot to insulate the roots. If you don't have mulch, you can use crumpled newspaper or packing popcorn.
Put the pottery in a box and crumple newspaper up around the exterior of the pot to insulate the roots from the cold winter temperatures. Store it in a protected space – shed, garage or basement, until spring.
These steps will help extend the life of your pottery and make it possible to maintain your perennials for next growing season. For more information, contact Bob Williams Nursery Inc. or a similar company.