Winter Care for Terra Cotta Pots

Remember last spring when I posted about How to Care for Terra Cotta Pots?   Well, winter adds another dimension to making sure your pots last without cracks.  Before storing your terra cotta pots for the winter, take a few extra steps to make sure they will be protected from the elements.

First, clean them up {in the fall before the snow flies is best}.  Empty out the dirt and brush them clean the best you can.  You can disinfect them now, so they will be ready to plant in the spring, or wait until spring {Go HERE to find out how}.  I prefer to wait until spring, because getting them wet without giving them a chance to dry out fully {if the weather gets cold faster than anticipated} can cause cracking.

It’s best to store pots in a place where they will be protected from excessive moisture.  I personally don’t have room to store all of mine in my garage, so I put them under my gardening table.  It provides a roof over them, and prevents rain and snow from collecting in the pots–which can freeze and lead to cracking.  Also, it is best to store them upside down.  Again, it limits how much water can get into the pots.  I store a couple of them on their sides, which keeps them pretty safe too.  If you have super large pots that you don’t move, it is best to cover them with something over the winter {a tarp, bubble wrap…whatever}.

The weather will age your pots.  It will fade them and cause discoloration–that’s totally normal, and in my personal opinion, adds to the charm and beauty.

A little prevention will seriously go a long way in making sure you will have your terra cotta pots for years and years.

~Mavis