Swing sets

In many parts of the country, outdoor planter boxes appear a little bleak during the winter. It is not difficult, however, to incorporate them into your holiday decorating scheme to add some cheer to your front porch or yard.

Plants

• Avoid freeze damage to plants by arranging small evergreens, poinsettias, or Christmas cacti left in pots in the planter, making it easy to move them indoors for warmth. Cotton batting arranged around the pots hides them in a white Christmas illusion.

Ornaments

• Turn your outdoor planter into a bowl of Christmas ornaments. Fill the planter halfway with boxes or newspaper. Add a layer of cotton batting and pile on giant ornaments made from playground balls painted and glittered.outdoor playground equipment

Swags and Lights

• Twining light strings with artificial greenery adds color to the greens. Swag them around the planter and tie red plastic ribbon bows at the high points of the loops.

  Live greenery can stain or damage some types of planters, as well as pose a fire hazard as they dry out, so artificial boughs are a safer and longer-lasting option.

Santa's Bag

• Wrap the planter with red fabric or paper and add a drawstring at the top. Fill the planter with empty boxes wrapped like gifts.outdoor playground equipment

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