Our Front Porch Winter Container Gardens
We decided to go with different plants in our winter container gardens this year because last year’s winter was tougher than previous years. We chose violas rather than pansies as they are more winter hardy. Here are photos of our winter containers over the past three years:
This year we planted a Flowering Kale in the center, with 2 plants each of Purple Viola, Tricolor Sage, Italian Parsley and Silver Falls Dichondra. (Click photo to enlarge)
Last year we planted an Italian Stone Pine in the center, surrounded by Dusty Miller and Purple Pansies. (Click photo to enlarge)
Year before last we planted a small evergreen, surrounded by winter pansies and trailing ivy. (Click photo to enlarge)
One nice thing about winter container gardens is that they don’t need much care as long as you use a good soil like we did. Even though we were tempted to use the old soil in the pot from previous plantings, we know it is best to start off with fresh soil. We used Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix. This special mix helps keep you from over and under watering, and best of all it contains enough feeding to make it thru the first few months.
Just to show you how plant roots love this soil, check out this photo of the root mass that filled these containers this summer.
Plant roots love Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix. This solid root mass is from our spring/summer containers. We like to start with fresh soil each time we plant. (Click photo to enlarge)
Tips and Tricks for a Greener Thumb 
I tried Miracle Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix in a window box for the first time this year. This is north facing and gets no sun. I had always grown impatiens with great success, until impatiens became infected with wilt. I switched to begonias. Not very successful with the begonias the first summer. This year I tried the Miracle Gro Moisture Contol potting soil and had a fabulous display of flowers. I kept checking the soil, expecting it to be bone dry, but it wasn’t. I had to water much less frequently. I will definitely use the Moisture Control potting soil for all my container gardening next year!
Hi Chloe
Thanks for sharing!
To be honest, when I first saw the Miracle Gro reference, I dismissed it as advertising…but then I remembered that my mom also used the MG Potting Mix for the first time this year… Her garden was spectacular! I believe!!!
Hi Dust and Dog Hair
Thanks for passing along the feedback. We used to mix our own potting soil, however our results were never as good as they have been using this Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Soil. Good luck with your container gardening!