Holiday pots at Cornell Farm in 2005.They looked lovely through summer, but by now, most outdoor flower boxes need a serious face-lift. Any of these solutions will perk up a pot for the holidays -- and last all winter long.
• Remove plant debris, fill with pine cones, natural or spray-painted silver, gold or white.
• Replant with miniature evergreens or your choice. Most full-service nurseries have a wide selection of them. Three usually fill a planter nicely.
• Remove plant debris and gather a selection of evergreen clippings (from your back yard, a nursery or, with permission, from the forest). Fill the planter with the clippings by sticking them in the dirt, making sure to vary heights and textures. Add dried flowers or berries for color.
• Prune a selection of bare branches/twigs, no bigger than a half-inch wide. Unless they have beautiful bark already, spray paint white, red or yellow. Stick twigs into dirt after removing any debris from the planter. Tie a giant ribbon around the planter.
• Fill the box with candles buried until sturdy in a couple of inches of soil. Use one color or multiple, mixed sizes or stick to one. Remember when you light them to keep them away from anything flammable -- and always extinguish them when you leave the area.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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