How can I make my front porch planters look pretty in the winter?

Carmela
by Carmela

It is winter, I live in New England and my house is for sale. What can I put in my planters to replace the dead plants from last summer to make it look appealing? It is February so I think it's too late for evergreens

  14 answers
  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Feb 06, 2020

    This made me think of something I saw on Facebook the other day. A gal got tired of her dead mums on her front porch so she spray painted them and dangit if they didn't look great all winter long like that! https://rootsandwingsfurniture.com/blog/spraypaintedplants/

  • Mogie Mogie on Feb 06, 2020

    This site lists the best fall porch plants for New England:

    https://newengland.com/today/seasons/fall/best-fall-porch-plants/

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Feb 06, 2020

    I think evergreens and dogwood branches would look lovely. It’s a tough time of year for planter plants. :)

  • Lucky Home Today Lucky Home Today on Feb 06, 2020

    Some fake poinsettias or fake greens would work.

  • Gk Gk on Feb 06, 2020

    So many faux flowers and more at places like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and JoAnn Fabrics! Take a trip and explore! I know you will come up with something that looks awesome! You could also just remove the planters! Your porch would look welcoming with just the rocking chair and a new mat!

  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Feb 06, 2020

    I would go with faux plants. Try Dollar Tree!

  • Dwp7470b Dwp7470b on Feb 06, 2020

    I would toss them and just get Real Trees that are nice year round, and nicer in season for outdoors. You can always clean the planters up for indoor use, using Holiday Colored Ribbons and Bows with indoor plants that last year round.

  • If you live in an area with evergreens take the branches and stick them in the urns for a few weeks of greenery before it's warm enough to plant real flowers.

    • I'd do that what Adrienne suggested along with spray paint some twigs if you don't have access to red dogwood...then you can also add white lights to brighten the space on these dark evenings.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Feb 06, 2020

    Metallic spray paint on branches with a bit of fake ivy would be pretty and shouldn't disturb your plants if you want them to come back next season.

  • Sharon Sharon on Feb 06, 2020

    Winter pansies, or dried plants like yarrow, and then there are small evergreens.

  • Carmela Carmela on Feb 06, 2020

    Thanks for all the great ideas. I think I should also power wash the steps! They look awful in this pic.

  • Dee Dee on Feb 09, 2020

    I would go to Hobby Lobby and check out their fake flowers. They have a huge selection. I would take out the dead flowers and put the fake ones in the dirt. For more realistic looking cover the dirt with fake ground cover. I would move the gargoyle to the other side of the porch as it looks like it interferes with the steps. Also power wash the steps, bricks and in front of your porch. Love the color of your front door.

  • Sharon Gott Griffin Sharon Gott Griffin on May 10, 2021

    Put in some small rosemary trees and add artifiical ferns to drape down the sides of the pots. You can even add some large artificial florals.

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jun 18, 2021

    I like to use greens. I add them right after the first freeze and they last all winter. You can freshen them up at Christmas, Valentine's Day, and even Easter with small decor items.