Martha's Genius Trick to Keep Outdoor Planters From Cracking This Winter

With winter on the way, Martha is busy preparing her farm for the cold weather, including protecting her flowers and plants from the anticipated harsh conditions. But it's not just the living things that need to be winterized. Martha says that it's also important to protect outdoor garden containers.

"A winter freeze, alternating with thaws, could crack or crumble any kind of stone or cement, especially if it is antique," she explains in a recent blog post. "During this time, all my outdoor planters, birdbaths, stanchions, etc., are covered in the same burlap used for my live specimens."

Martha and her team recently completed the "burlaying" process at her Bedford farm. They started by covering the opening of each container with a piece of plywood cut to size, then wrapped the containers in a layer of plastic all the way around.

Next, the outdoor vessels are covered from top to bottom with burlap. "When we can, we reuse burlap from seasons past; however, it is also available in giant rolls of 40 inches or 60 inches wide," Martha writes.

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Her grounds crew then sews up the open edges of the burlap using jute twine and needles that are specially designed to sew jute. The 5-inch long needles have large eyes and bent tips. According to Martha, the burlap should be sewn tightly, but with some space for air circulation. Depending on the size of the vessel, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to cover one of these ornamental containers, she says.

Burlap is used for many gardening projects around the farm. It's inexpensive and biodegradable, and "the color and texture of burlap is so pretty to use," Martha explains, adding that the covered containers now "look like pieces of burlap art."

When spring arrives, the covers are taken off and stored for reuse the following winter. If stored properly in a dry place, the cover can last a couple of seasons, Martha notes.