Outdoor Winter Planter Idea Using A Garden Cart
HOW TO DECORATE A RUSTIC OUTDOOR PLANTER OR GARDEN CART TO CARRY YOU FROM CHRISTMAS ALL THE WAY THROUGH WINTER!
Its that time of year when I have to take advantage of the few nice days that are left, and by nice I mean high 30โs, and get my winter planters put together. Last Sunday the temperature hovered right around 40 so I knew that was my opportunity to get outside and take care of the outdoor things before snowfall. Wow I couldnโt have timed that better. Look what 24 hours later looks like. Living in Michigan ya never know when that lake effect snow machine will kick in and dump a big pile of that white fluffy stuff all around.ย
In my opinion snow just makes everything prettier. A blanket of pure soft white snow covers the once leafless trees and yellow grass. Not even an animal print or human tracks has had time to disturb it as of yet. Michigan truly is a magical place in the wintertime. For me it just isnโt winter without snow.
In taking advantage of the Sunday weather hubby and I went out to get those few things done that Iโd neglected in the garden and shed. Iโd already cleared the vegetable garden all but a few sunflower plants; I left them standing for the birds to pick clean. So I tacked that area while hubby removed the battery from the lawnmower and power tools in the shed and stored them in the heated basement for the winter.
I dumped all the potted plants that were still barely hanging on into the compost bin and got them ready for adding pine clippings to for my outside winter dรฉcor look. I knew I had to get the not so fun stuff done before I allowed myself to do what I was looking forward to and that was giving my vintage garden cart a little pizzazz.
Do you remember my $4 garden cart find? For winter I thought the blue paint color that it once had just didnโt fit so when all else fails I go find a can of my favorite matte black spray paint.ย I wasnโt quite sure if it was warm enough for the paint to dry outside but I was willing to give it a try. Whatโs the worse that could happen I โd have a vintage cart with a bad paint job, right?
After hauling the cart from the cabin to the rock at our entry, itโs actually not at the entrance of our dive itโs about the half way point, but it is the first turn in the drive where you can spot the cabin. When I say hauling I mean dragging. I didnโt realize at some point hubby, son, or an employee had bumped it with one of the work truck and broke a wheel off (and didn’t tell me). It didnโt help that it was still full of dirt but I need the dirt to poke the pine clipping in so I muscled it down the drive and into place.
Once Iโd positioned it near the rock I skimmed it with a coat of black spray paint. I wasnโt worried about the coverage I still wanted it to look rustic. After a quick paint job I trucked into our field and gave the pines a trim. This is what that area looks like when the Russian Sage is in full bloom, and once Iโd trimmed it down to the ground I thought the white/silver stems would be perfect for adding to the cart along with the pine branches; so I poked them into the dirt as well.
I grabbed my camera, took a few shots, and was happy to get everything on my to-do-list done. But that little miracle of snow blanketed our place overnight and I couldnโt resist take the photos all over again. I know the cart is simple and rustic and not everyoneโs cup of tea but for me it was easy and rewarding and just the look Iโm going for with my winter and Christmas dรฉcor. Iโm taking decorating at a slower pace this year and taking the time to enjoy the process.
I may put up a tree and I may not; I guess I’ll see what mood I’m in when that time comes. I think keeping things rustic and old fashioned will be a good thing. I love all the bloggers who have their place decked out with beautiful trees and bright twinkly lights but for me that simple, rustic, relaxed look’s is just what I need!