DIY - Winter Garden

Text & photo : Chloé Comte 

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Ready to start decorating for the holidays?

Once the fir branches arrive in the greenhouses, this is one of the first projects I love to tackle before the weather gets too cold. I like to start with this one because it sets the tone for welcoming future guests, and I get to enjoy it all winter long. Plus, to be honest, it’s pretty easy to make.

Head to your favorite Passion Jardins retailer to grab everything you need, and let yourself be guided!

Material

• Frost-resistant large pot (with drainage holes. Mine holds 74L / 19.5 gal).
• Garden soil (I used 3 bags of 25L for my pot).
• Wooden branches (choose the type you prefer).
• Various evergreen branches (pine, cedar, fir, etc.).
• Decorative accessories (pinecones, bells, stars, bows, ribbons, etc.).
• Pruning shears
• Shovel

1- Fill the pot completely with garden soil, ensuring there is enough depth to securely plant all the branches. This will also help make the arrangement heavy enough to withstand wind and other harsh weather conditions.

2- Plant the wooden branches in the center of the pot.

3- Trim and place the tallest evergreen branches at the back of the pot, behind the wooden branches (I used pine branches).

3- Play with the height by arranging the tallest branches at the back of the pot and gradually working your way down to the shortest branches at the front.

4- Place the softest, trailing branches at the front of the pot. Here, I used cedar.

5- Once the tallest and shortest branches are in place, add medium-length branches in the center to maintain the desired effect. I trimmed and positioned fir branches in the center.

6- Finish by filling in any empty spaces with branches of the appropriate length.

7- Once all the branches are in place, set up the winter arrangement in the desired location and water the composition generously.

8- To decorate the winter arrangement, I recommend using only two additional colors for a cohesive look (with the green of the evergreens, that makes three colors total!).

Repeat the color of the pot as the secondary color, and choose a tertiary color as an accent (such as red, gold, or wood tones). Don’t forget to play with different heights for added dimension!

Your winter arrangement is all set to brighten your season and kick off the rest of your holiday preparations!

Tips and Tricks:

• For this project, I recommend using garden soil because once watered, it becomes heavy enough to keep the pot stable, even in bad weather.
• Be mindful when choosing the pot! It will spend the winter outside filled with wet soil, so make sure you select a frost-resistant one to avoid cracking. I chose a Veradek pot from my local Passion Jardins retailer.
• To keep your winter arrangement lasting as long as possible, assemble it while the branches are still fresh, and remember to water it regularly until the soil in the pot freezes!