Planters may make your cedar decking look great in the spring and summer, but good luck keeping them alive during the fall and winter months. Unless you’re growing evergreens, many planters, pots and flowers need to be moved indoors during the cold months. Here is a little information on bringing in deck plants for winter:
Why It’s A Good Idea
The most obvious reason you’d bring deck plants indoors during winter is to keep them alive. Sensitive plants such as flowers and some shrubbery don’t deal with cold so well and will quickly die if left outside. There’s another reason for moving them, however: saving your wood decking. Large planters can ruin decking material by collecting pools of water under them and staining the wood. Imagine cleaning off your cedar deck in the spring only to find ugly circular or square stains you can’t get rid of. No thanks.
Before You Bring Them In
– Remove any wilted flowers and brown or diseased leaves.
– Look for any webs or bugs.
– Ease the transition by moving the plants to a shady outdoor location for a week. Stop fertilizing, and reduce the amount of watering.
Where to Put Them
You may think you can place decking plants anywhere in your house, but you’d be wrong. Certain plants, like ferns, need a very humid, bright area, such as near a bathroom window. Geraniums and poinsettias do best in dry, dark areas that stay warm without receiving too much light. For most light-loving plants, spots in front of east- and south-facing windows are great, as they get just the right amount of light.