Branches Bring the Winter Spirit to Container Gardens

Now that winter is just around the corner, consider refreshing your container gardens to reflect the season and prepare them for spring. Using tree branches can add drama and vertical dimension to your outdoor container arrangements with minimal cost and time.

Depending on the types of branches used, the look can vary from austere to whimsical. The following tree branches can be easily found in garden centers, craft stores or even in your own landscape.

Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea, USDA zones 3 to 8), aptly named for its bright red slender branches, is often used in holiday arrangements. The branches can be quite large, as shown here in back, adding needed height to a container's composition.


Here, redtwig dogwood branches have a more modern feel. An arrangement like this can go well beyond the holidays. Arrange the branches to suit your tastes, anchoring them in the soil.


Some dogwoods sport bright yellow branches. Mix them with yellow-berried incense cedar, as shown here, for the perfect greeting for Thanksgiving guests.


Curly willow (Salix matsudana, zones 5 to 8) is a fun choice that adds whimsy to a container's design. Pinecones at the base give this arrangement a rustic look, and it can last for months.


A bit of curly willow in this lush centerpiece adds playfulness and height to a tabletop.


Bamboo (Phyllostachys, USDA zones 4 to 9) evokes a more modern aesthetic and has a strong architectural look. Though this container is indoors, it could easily add drama to an outdoor space.


With their paper-like peeling bark, branches of white birch (Betula papyrifera, USDA zones 2 to 6) have enough visual interest to stand on their own.


You can easily find painted branches at most craft stores; they come in a variety of colors to match the look you are going for. Here the white branches provide a celebratory winter feeling without being too Christmasy.

Tell us: Do you use branches in your container designs? What are your favorite types?

More: 5 Container Gardens for the Holidays and Beyond

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