“Winter is coming,” the characters of “Game of Thrones” are fond of saying. So now’s the time to make preparations to protect your business’s decorative planters and pots from freezing temperatures and heavy snows.
Replacing pots and planters can be expensive. So it’s cost-effective to take a few simple steps now so that they will be ready to be replanted in perfect condition next spring. If you fail to prepare your planters, many will probably need to be replaced or repaired thanks due to cracks and breakage caused by the freeze/thaw cycle.
Getting Ready for Winter
The first thing to do to get your planters ready for winter is to give them a thorough cleaning. Start by removing and discarding any remaining plant material. Potting soil also can be removed and placed into a compost pile or stored under a tarp for reuse next year.
Clean the interior and exterior of the planter using a solution made of 10% bleach and 90% water. Air dry the pots and they will be ready for winter storage.
Where to Store Pots
For maximum protection from winter’s chill, store pots and planters indoors and away from areas where they might be in the way of operations. A dark, out of the way corner of a warehouse or manufacturing plant is ideal.
If your operation is limited for room and storing these materials indoors isn’t practical, they can be left outdoors over the winter. Just remember to flip empty pots over so that their drainage holes are pointing up. Use bricks, cinder blocks, or 2X4s to keep them off the ground.
If planters are too heavy to move, use bubble wrap to protect them and to insulate the roots of any remaining plants.
Special Care Required
Pots and planters that are made of clay-based terra cotter will absorb moisture. If these are left outdoors during winter, they will almost certainly crack and split due to the freeze cycle. Other potentially endangered materials include cast stone, glass, and ceramic.
If these can’t be brought indoors — or at least into an unheated storage shed or garage — at least get them off the ground and under a waterproof tarp to protect them from the snowmelt. Group them together under a south-facing wall, under an overhanging eave, or somewhere else that will provide them with minimal protection.
Durable Planters
Some types of planters are made from durable materials that can easily stand up to the worst that winter has to offer. These include those made of wood, concrete, cast iron, polyurethane, fiberglass, and non-porous plastic composites.
While these can be left outside all winter long without any worry, some plastic planters may be UV sensitive. So the over time the sun’s rays may cause them to discolor, become brittle, or crack.
If you don’t want to have to repurchase new planters and pots next spring, take these simple, affordable steps to protect your current landscaping gear so you can replant as soon as the worst of winter has passed.