By the time the first frost of the winter arrives, your outdoor plants should already be tucked away somewhere warm and safe. But even empty pots shouldn’t be left outside in the cold without some extra precautions. Water from snow and rain can accumulate in upright pots, whether they’re empty or full of old soil. As the water freezes and expands, it can cause the pot to crack. TikTok has one tip for winterizing empty planters that can’t easily be brought indoors: roll them onto their side! This helps prevent water from pooling and freezing inside leaving broken plant pots around your home and garden. While it may not work in every scenario, overall, it’s a great idea!

Terracotta planters are especially vulnerable in freezing weather because the clay absorbs moisture and can expand and contract as the temperature changes, resulting in cracks. Meanwhile, ceramic pots are non-porous in theory, but many are under-fired and so may still absorb some moisture. The safest way to prevent planters from freezing and cracking is to bring all of them indoors for the winter — or at least to a warm and dry garage. However, sometimes a pot may be too big and heavy to easily move, or you may not have enough room to bring it inside. That’s where TikTok’s tip comes in handy.

@youcandoitgardening

Don’t forget to protect your ceramic pots if you live in a colder climate! These can be heavy so moving them around can be hard. Some of the really thick ones will probably be fine but I don’t like to take the chance because those things are expensive. You have to wait until it’s cold enough so the dirt doesn’t spill out everywhere but not so cold that it will crack. I usually roll mine out of the way instead of leaving them lying around but this was an illustration of how easy this can be. Has anyone else ever cracked a pot of two?😬 Feel free to share other strategies! Location: videos are done by clients at their homes and this was done by Kirsten. About me: I am a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b). I meet with people in person around the Boston area and virtually all over the country and Canada. Go to website to schedule consultations: https://www.youcandoitgardening.com #youcandoitgardening #ceramicpots #crackedpots #gardeningforbeginners #gardeningtips #gardencoach #gardening #landscaping #gardening101 #gardentok

♬ original sound – You Can Do It Gardening

TikTok creator Jess the garden coach (@youcandoitgardening) explained that you can prevent pots from cracking in freezing weather by rolling them onto their side. That way, water doesn’t pool inside the planter, but simply rolls off the outside. Turning the pots upside down also works. Finally, to keep your yard looking orderly, Jess recommended rolling the pots out of sight. 

Keep in mind that this method isn’t foolproof when it comes to preventing terracotta pots from cracking, since the clay itself can still absorb water. Instead, it’s best to cover clay pots with a waterproof tarp. Alternatively, you can seal your terracotta pots to keep moisture out, but understand that applying a sealant on terracotta planters slows down drainage, which can increase the risk of overwatering and root rot.

For planters with plants still growing in them, turning them over isn’t a viable option. Instead, bring them closer to your home where it’s warmer and group them together in a sheltered spot. Raise each pot off of the ground so it doesn’t freeze onto the soil and surround them with straw, leaves, or bubble wrap to protect the plants from frost and keep the pots warm and dry. Lastly, if your planter is too large to turn or move, there’s another trick to prevent dirt-filled planters from cracking: bury an empty plastic jug into the potting soil. This creates a pocket of extra space for the soil to expand into when it freezes, saving the pot itself from cracking.