When winter’s chill begins to settle in, those of us who care for our plants and gardens face a familiar challenge: how to protect planter pots from the destructive power of frost. The cold threatens not only the plants, but also the pots themselves. Into this common struggle comes a viral TikTok tip that suggests a surprisingly simple solution—rolling planters onto their sides. On the surface, it sounds effective, but does it hold up under close scrutiny?
Understanding the Need for Winterizing Planters
Winter isn’t kind to outdoor pots. Between freezing temperatures, snow, and rain, the elements can wreak havoc on both the soil and the planter. Proper preparation is essential to keep your garden investments intact until spring arrives.
Risks of Leaving Planters Outside
When a planter is exposed to the elements, water from snow and rain can collect inside. This turns into a problem the moment temperatures drop below freezing. As water freezes, it expands, creating pressure that may crack or even shatter the pot. Terracotta and ceramic pots are especially prone to this, given their natural tendency to absorb moisture. It’s not just the pots at risk either—if frozen soil expands too much, it can harm the plants and roots within.
The damage doesn’t end there. Planters left on bare ground can freeze solid to the earth, making them even more difficult to move later. Once frost sets in, your options for protecting your pots become increasingly limited.
Common Types of Planter Materials
Planters come in a range of materials, each with unique characteristics that respond differently to cold. Terracotta pots, while beautiful and timeless, are porous and absorb water easily. This makes them highly susceptible to cracking. Ceramic planters, while less porous, can still absorb water if they aren’t fully glazed or are under-fired. On the other hand, plastic planters are more resilient to freezing but may grow brittle over time due to repeated exposure to the cold. Concrete and fiberglass pots are durable enough to handle most winters but not immune to extreme conditions. Knowing your pots’ materials helps you choose the right protection.
Evaluating TikTok’s Winterization Tip
The TikTok suggestion to roll planters onto their sides—allowing water to flow off and thus avoiding the freeze-thaw cycle—feels both clever and convenient. Let’s break down its effectiveness.
@youcandoitgardening This can happen to the best of us and landscapers, please don’t do this to your clients’ hydrangeas.🙏 #youcandoitgardening #hyrdrangea #macrophylllahydrangea #bigleafhydrangea #gardeningtips #gardeningforbeginners #gardening #diylandscaping #diygardening #gardentok ♬ original sound – You Can Do It Gardening
How the Tip Works
The idea is simple but rooted in logic. Planters left upright can collect rain or snow, and the standing water dramatically increases the risk of freezing damage. By tipping the pots to their sides, water has nowhere to pool, reducing the chance of freezing damage. For smaller pots, this method is a quick and low-effort solution. Rolling them out of plain sight can also help maintain the visual appeal of your yard during winter months.
The effectiveness of this tip also depends on timing. If you wait until after the first freeze, any soil or moisture already inside the pot could solidify and make rolling it more difficult or less effective. Timing is key—preparing pots just before winter’s real bite allows you to avoid these issues.
Situations Where It May Not Work
While the strategy works well for certain scenarios, it’s not a magic fix. Terracotta pots, for instance, remain vulnerable even when tipped. The porous clay can still absorb moisture from damp soil or even the surrounding air. When that moisture freezes, the pot could still crack.
Large planters or those filled with soil present other challenges. If too heavy to move, the rolling method simply isn’t practical. In these cases, you’ll need an alternative, such as covering the planter with a waterproof tarp or insulating it with straw or bubble wrap. Additionally, if your planter houses plants that you’re actively trying to save, rolling it on its side isn’t an option; the plants themselves need protection from frost.
One clever workaround for large, dirt-filled pots is to insert an empty plastic container like a milk jug into the soil. This leaves room for expansion as the soil freezes, reducing the pressure on the pot walls. It’s simple science but can be remarkably effective for protecting your container from cracks.
Conclusion
Winterizing your garden pots is more than just an extra chore—it’s a necessary step to keep your planters and plants safe during the cold months. TikTok’s suggestion to tip planters onto their sides provides a practical and easy method for many gardeners, especially for smaller or medium-sized pots. But it’s not without its limits. Highly porous materials like terracotta remain susceptible to damage, and extremely large pots may require alternative strategies.
For many, this TikTok tip offers a good starting point, especially if bringing all your pots indoors isn’t an option. Paired with other methods like covering pots or insulating them, you can ensure your garden is ready to face even the toughest winters. Ultimately, prevention is worth the effort—because replacing a broken pot, especially a beloved or expensive one, always costs more than taking a few extra precautions when the first frost looms.
