For a different take on using your pots in the winter I found an article by Chloe Bryan-Brown who lives in England. She suggests that there are many dwarf shrubs and winter-flowering plants which you can grow successfully through the winter. Naturally this will depend on your zone, but there are some ideas here to suit most tastes.

Winter may be well and truly here but that?s no reason to consign your pots to a corner of the garden. Containers planted with a selection of hardy foliage and flowers can brighten up a patio or window ledge. Or make your front doorstep feel more welcoming, or bring a blast of colour outside your kitchen window to lift the spirits while you do the washing up.

Preparation

Choosing containers for your plants is a bit like buying a winter coat. You need substance as well as style. In particular, porous materials are prone to cracking because they retain moisture which expands when it freezes. So opt for frost-proof terracotta, plastic or wood. Then, because it?s likely to be wet, think about drainage.

Waterlogged pots lead to soggy roots, yellowing leaves and wilting plants. So choose pots with holes and line with a preparatory layer of gravel or crocks. Finally, raise your containers on pot feet or bricks so that air can circulate and excess water drain away. Most of all, don?t leave it too long! ? your plants will fare better if they have a chance to get established in their container ahead of winter?s worst chills.

Planting
What to put in your containers? Evergreens, such as box, bay, skimmia, euonymus and scented daphne with its balls of deep pink and white flowers are an obvious choice.

See more at Telegraph Gardening
Image source: Greenery Nursery