Winter & Wind: Balcony Gardening Survival Guide

Let's be honest — balcony gardening in Canada isn't always easy. High winds, deep freezes and unpredictable weather can all make it a challenge. With the right tools and techniques, your balcony garden can thrive year-round — or safely rest through the winter. You can buy evergreen branches on some stores to decorate those empty pots until spring arrives again.


Challenge #1: Windy Balconies

  • Use wide-bottom or weighted containers that won't tip easily.
  • Avoid hanging baskets and flimsy railing planters on exposed balconies.
  • Create windbreaks with trellises, outdoor fabric, or grouped planters.
  • Choose wind-tolerant plants like grasses, lavender, or rosemary.

Challenge #2: Deep Winter Freezes

  • Group containers together and lift them off concrete using pot feet or wood slats.
  • Insulate pots with bubble wrap, burlap, or straw if they must stay outside.
  • Move tender perennials and herbs indoors or into a protected garage or shed.
  • Choose hardy perennials in deep containers to survive dormancy outside.
TIP: Don't leave clay or unglazed terracotta pots outside in the winter. They're porous and will absorb moisture — which then freezes and expands, cracking the pot. Even with Glazed Pots I would put in a plastic bag and get them out of freezing weather.

🪴 Cold-Hardy Container Choices

  • Plastic: Lightweight and weather-resistant. Choose thick, UV-stable ones.
  • Resin or fiberglass: Durable and frost-proof.
  • Wood: Natural insulation, but add a liner to prevent rot.
  • Grow bags: Great for roots — and easy to move or store in winter.
  • Clay (terracotta): Only safe if used indoors — or as sleeves for plastic pots.
Real-life wisdom: Many seasoned gardeners scrub and dry their clay pots at the end of the season, then bring them indoors. You can leave them outside - they just can't get wet and then freeze. I have left some of my clay pots in plastic bags outside for the winter. Treasured pots I bring them indoors. Maybe the fancy pots can be used for plants that you're going to winter indoors anyway. You can also use them purely for decoration outside — just slip a plastic pot inside!

Cold and wind don't mean you have to give up your garden — they just mean you garden with that thought in mind. With these tips, your balcony can stay green, safe and ready for spring.

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