Winter is Coming! Your Outdoor Garden Accent Pieces need protection!
Many of you live in Provinces and States that have a definite Winter climate. Your outdoor garden accents will need protection from the winter freeze and thaw that takes place during the next few months.
Cast Stone Planters and Birdbaths
Both of these accents will be susceptible to collecting water. When temperatures freeze, water that is caught within the crevices will expand. The result will be damage to your planters and cracked birdbaths. Statues, fountains, and benches will also be in danger. The simplest way to avoid any problems is to lift them up out of any standing divots that will accumulate water.
Get yourself some pressure treated wood and cut them into lengths that will allow you to raise your planters, benches, and statues up out of harm’s way. Freezing temperatures will not harm them but standing in puddles will certainly shorten their lifespan. Emptying your planters and turning them upside down, is the best thing for them. But if you don’t want to do that you can leave them filled with soil, so long as the drainage holes remain unblocked. Cover them with an old blanket or towel and then wrap them in some dark plastic. This will warm them up through the daylight hours, so no water accumulation should occur. Truly, it’s better to empty them and start with fresh soil in the spring.
Fountains
Any fountain should be emptied of any water in its bowl(s). All pumps hoses and rings should be removed and placed into a plastic bag that has been marked as belonging to the garden fountain. These should be stored indoors. Most of these housings are made of plastics or rubber hoses that are just not meant for freezing temperatures. Clean out the bowls and cover them with plastic so that no water can pool up in any of the bowls. Check on your garden accents from time to time. If there is any water within, make sure you empty it again. If your fountain is a large one that cannot be moved into a sheltered area, then please take the time to ensure that it remains empty throughout the winter months.
Beautiful Garden Fountain Needs Protection in the Winter Months.
Glazed and Terra Cotta Planters
These garden accent pieces will most certainly be damaged if left outside for the winter months. I have lost a few beautiful pots, that because I did not get them into a dry area for the winter. These pots are expensive if you have to replace them every year. A little extra care with them will keep them beautiful for years to come.
I totally get what you are saying, I lost a couple of gift pots due to leaving them outside to the elements thru winter. Now I know better. Thanks for sharing at the Pit stop!
Isn’t that so sad when it happens. I have lost a few too over the years and I hate it. Winter here sometimes comes swiftly, then I’m running around like at mad hatter trying to catch up and get all those things that need special care out of the elements. Thank you for stopping by Julie!
Definitely great advice for those who live where it freezes. I’ll add another reason to keep planters and other vessels empty of water – water attracts mosquitoes and mosquitoes carry diseases. So standing water can become a danger to health, too, by creating the breeding grounds that they love.
You are so right Susan, the easiest way to keep that from happening though is to put a little goldfish in the container. Those guys eat up the mosquito eggs like crazy, you will never be bothered. In that sense, the goldfish are worth their weight in gold.
Great reminders, and some tips I hadn’t thought of! Thanks for sharing these. We actually cover our outdoor hydrant with insulation and a big trash can in winter because it freezes and breaks if we don’t!
Wow, Martie where do you live? We get cold, but I have never seen a hydrant freeze. We do get water main breaks, though.
I’m glad I live where it doesn’t get that cold.
The older I get the more I think like you do Barbara. But there is some beauty to be found in the changing of the seasons too! Just more work in the garden before the snow flies.
These are excellent tips!!!
Thank you Sandy.