Martha Stewart’s Winter Container Method Is the Best Way to Stop Pots Cracking – and Now’s the Time to Do It

As the winter chill slowly creeps in and frost begins to coat everything with its shimmering glaze, now is the perfect time to think about how you will protect your garden. We’re not just talking about the plants (though you should obviously consider those too) – we’re talking about frost-proofing the containers themselves, which can sometimes be quite expensive.

In a recent blog post, Martha Stewart unveiled a simple, old-school, and wonderfully sustainable trick for safeguarding things like planters, birdbaths, urns, and other garden ornaments from the freeze-thaw cycle: wrap them in burlap.

"I've been covering my boxwood shrubs and hedges with burlap for many years to protect them from splaying and breaking from the weight of snow and ice. I feel it is equally important to protect my outdoor garden containers from the harsh winter elements," explains Marha. "A winter freeze, alternating with thaws, could crack or crumble any kind of stone or cement, especially if it is antique."

Why Burlap?

Many outdoor containers are made of stone, cement, or clay, and these materials are prone to cracking when water trapped inside freezes and expands. A cycle of freeze and thaw can be especially damaging to antique or porous pots. Martha explains that by covering these pieces with burlap, as well as an underlying layer of plastic and plywood where needed, her “burlapping” process protects them from the harshness of winter.

"I have many outdoor containers and garden ornaments that are covered and protected with burlap and kept in their respected locations for the duration of the cold season."

Burlap, also known as hessian, is perfect as it’s biodegradable, cheap, and yet tough enough to hold up through soggy, snowy, or icy winters. Even better, the texture gives a rustic, natural charm to garden decor. Wrapping containers in breathable fabric such as burlap, rather than sealed plastic, helps avoid moisture getting trapped against the container, which can refreeze and cause damage.

Furthermore, burlap is better than plastic in one key way: it allows air circulation. This means you avoid trapping moisture against the container, which could turn into ice, while still adding a layer of insulation. Many gardeners recommend burlap over plastic for wrapping plants or containers for exactly this reason.

You can buy a roll of burlap from Lowe’s for a fairly low price. This one comes in a size of 3 feet by 24 feet. If you have a bigger garden and need more burlap, this one from Amazon is 80 feet long.

Which Containers Benefit Most?

Not all containers are created equal when it comes to winter risk. The ones that benefit the most from a burlap “winter jacket” are:

• Unglazed clay or terracotta pots: Due to their porous nature, these pots absorb water; when that moisture freezes, it expands and can crack or shatter the pot.
• Glazed ceramic or cement / cast-stone planters and garden ornaments: Like clay, these rigid, often heavy materials don’t handle freeze–thaw cycles well. This is especially true for antique or decorative pieces that are outside all winter.
• Large or heavy containers that can’t be easily moved indoors: For pots that are too big or heavy to bring inside, wrapping them gives extra protection; this is especially useful for urns, large planters, birdbath bases, and decorative stone planters standing in exposed spots.

On the other hand, containers made of more frost-resistant or flexible materials, like high-quality plastic, fiberglass, resin, or frost-proof ceramic, tend to tolerate cold better. These are less likely to crack, though drainage and root protection are still important.

With that said, even the best frost-resistant containers can still benefit from a light layer of insulating wrap or being moved to a more sheltered area. This is especially the case if you live in an exceptionally cold climate up north or a place prone to freeze-thaw cycles.

Is it Worth the Effort?

If you really love classic stone urns or antique cement pots, especially those that you usually leave outdoors during the winter, Martha’s burlap method is worth considering. The small time investment (depending on the size of your garden) and a few meters of protective cloth could save you from more costly, financially and emotionally, next spring.

Of course, there are always trade-offs. Some gardeners feel that unless containers are highly exposed, like in an area that’s open, windy, or gets heavy snow, simpler strategies are better. These can include moving smaller pots underneath a roof, raising them slightly off the cold ground, or emptying out soil to drain moisture.

Still, if you like a rustic look that is low-impact and biodegradable, burlap is perfect. And, once you have the supplies, wrapping your pots becomes more of a ritual than a chore.

Best Frost-Proof Pots