The plant picks that will keep your front porch looking fresh year-round

Our summer gardens are all but gone but horticulturist Jon Peter from the Royal Botanical Garden stopped by The Goods to shed some light on container plants that can withstand our harsh Canadian winters.

To have the best success with a year round container, you want to plant it at a time of year, like spring or early fall, when the plants have a chance to get new roots established before the onset of winter, so this is your last chance to plant. A well-curated planter can provide year-round beauty – all you need to do is choose the best plants for your weather conditions.

Before you do anything, be sure to know your hardiness zone so that you can choose plants that are at least two zones lower (hardier). So, if you garden in zone 5, choose plants hardy to at least zone 3 for your year-round containers. Don't worry, the research has been done for you and you can access a Plant Hardiness Zone Map here.

It's always best to do your own homework before sourcing plants, but here are some of Jon's shopping suggestions:

Conifers

These come in all shapes and sizes. Pick one that you're drawn to and it will keep its needles throughout the winter. It'll provide a dose of year-round colour and you can even decorate them for the holidays. Look for pines, spruces, cedars and firs. Different zones exist for each of these types, so be sure to select one that's suited to your local climate.

Cold weather shrubs

Shrubs will lose their leaves in the winter, so be sure to look for pleasant characteristics that will remain even when their leaves have fallen. Some excellent options are red-stemmed dogwoods (above), witch-hazel with its beautiful winter flowers, seven-son flower which has gorgeous bark, or even creeping wintergreen which produce red and yellow fruit and add some colour to your porch this winter.

Evergreen shrubs 

These species keep their leaves all year round but can be tricky because they aren't as durable as conifers. Their leaves might brown a little in the winter, so your best bet for longevity is to keep them protected and they can help provide year round colour to your gardens with their beautiful leaves. Try holly, Japanese pieris, and boxwood.

Hearty evergreen to semi-evergreen perennials

Coral bells (Heuchera 'Paris') can be semi-evergreens and will keep those nice coloured leaves into the winter. Use plants like Bergenia or grasses to add a structural element to your planter.

Potting tips

Select a frost-proof container

Choose a container with a drainage hole in the bottom that's made of fibreglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, or stone so that the freeze-thaw action in winter doesn't destroy it. The larger the container, the more success you will have because the soil mix can provide more insulation for the root systems. Make sure you don't have exposed roots and ensure that enough soil is covering the tops of the root balls.

Use the correct potting soil

There are soilless mixes specifically made for use in containers which provide the essential drainage that plants living in pots need. Opt for a soil that is specific to the plant types you put in the containers and stay away from light potting mixes meant for annuals because they will not hold up in the freezing cold weather.

Tips for maintenance

Stop fertilizing your plants about six to eight weeks before your first frost date. This will prevent any tender new growth, which wouldn't survive the winter and allows the plant to go into dormancy. Begin fertilizing again when the plants resume growth in the spring.

Water well and deeply throughout fall and into winter until the soil in the container is frozen. Water again if the soil thaws during winter warm spells.

Choose a location with access to sunlight but more importantly, choose a protected location from drying winter winds.

Repot or replant every few years – though some plants will live longer in a container, repot your plants every three years to be on the safe side.