How To Transition Your Containers: Take yours from season to season
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Making our homes safe, cozy and beautiful places for the people we love this holiday season is a meaningful way to change the world. In that spirit, we pulled together a few quick tips and ideas.
HOT TIP FOR COLD WEATHER
Even if you don’t consider yourself a gardener, you’ve probably decorated your porch or patio for fall and the holidays. That may mean dropping mums, marigolds or pansies into your containers for fall and switching to evergreen branches and decorative touches for the winter holidays.
We don’t want to let another holiday season pass without sharing something that will make things so much easier for you: get out in front of the winter freeze this year.
Every winter we see people struggle with their porch pots because they freeze with the remnants of fall stuck inside. And we get it, you want your containers to look pretty year round.
But this year, watch the weather. When you see that we’ll have more than a couple nights of below freezing weather (especially if there is moisture in the forecast), retire your loyal fall flowers and remove about half of the soil in your containers. You can just sprinkle it in your beds.
You’ll be ensuring that you have room to add fresh soil as a base for holding loose wintergreens, birch logs, berried branches, holiday stakes, etc. You can get creative, without having to deal with a rock-solid mass of soil.
If you’re not the do-it-yourself type, check out our Holiday or Custom Porch Pots. These fiber pots are created by our designers with an assortment of holiday finery, all ready to drop right into your containers. It’s kind of the best of both worlds—pretty pots and clean hands.
JUST ADD EVERGREEN
Research shows that we associate the smell of pine with happy holiday memories and walks in the woods. Unsurprisingly, the same research shows that the smell—and these thoughts—help reduce stress.
Something we could all use right about now.
Which is why we’re big advocates of fresh Fraser Fir Christmas trees, known to be fragrant and long lasting. We always give yours a fresh cut before you take it home (or have it delivered, an option you can choose at check-out) and we’d be happy to gather any low branches we cut from your tree so you can take them home with you for a little extra filler in your porch pots, small vases around the house, as gift toppers, special touches at each place setting, even to tuck in drawers and closets for a fresh pine surprise.
Of course, we always love to hang fresh wreaths on exterior windows and doors, around lampposts and over exterior or interior sconces. We have serious fun draping wintergreen garlands over doorways (for a burst of fragrance as you brush by), along the bannister, from the mantle and especially on a white picket or wrought iron gate.
THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
This year has included a lot of uncertainty around getting together and seeing the ones we love. It’s been especially tough on seniors. Teachers have a big, important job and are finding new ways to reach students and inspire them. And we can all agree how thankful we are for the healthcare heroes who live and work among us.
We’re thinking about small ways we can brighten others’ days, show them our appreciation and let them know we care this holiday season. And we’re coming prepared.
Mini Poinsettias are easily and affordably gifted in multiples, as are small real or faux wreaths, fresh hanging baskets and gift cards that never expire. The way we see it, small gestures and true gratitude just might change the world.
We hope to see you during the season this year. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and meaningful holiday season to you and yours, from all of us here at Benken.
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