Tips for Storing Your Outdoor Artificial Plants During the Winter Months

I think maybe bears have it right.

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Eat a whole bunch, then go into hibernation during the winter months. You get to eat whatever you want for a couple of months then sleep through the coldest part of the year. Sounds like a really good plan.

If you use faux trees and plants in your outdoor landscaping, you might consider treating those plants like a bear. Skip the eating part, but let them hibernate through the winter. Some may be asking, “Can your outdoor artificial trees and plants go outside during the winter months?”

Well, Unlike bears, your outdoor artificial plants don’t have a natural coat to keep them safe and clean throughout the winter, so storing them properly is important. You want them to look fabulous when it’s time to venture back outdoors in the spring.

Follow these five simple tips, and your fake plants and flowers will come out of hibernation looking fit and fabulous.

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Tip #1 – Decide on a storage space.

Choose a spot for your faux plants and flowers that is out of the way and keeps a steady temperature above freezing. Many fake plants and flowers are made from plastic, and freezing temperatures can cause that plastic to become brittle and break. Consider a shelf designated just for storing your outdoor plants during the winter. There are some great plant storage options available. Consider plastic storage cabinets or a plant stand with storage.

Tip #2 – Clean them up.

Plants that have been outside all summer probably need some cleaning. Before bringing them inside, spray them off with the hose or use a feather duster to knock off the dirt. Before sending them to hibernation, inspect them for damage and remove any irreparably damaged blooms or stems.

Pro Tip: Did you know that you can use hairspray to clean artificial plants?

If you get them in shape for Spring before you put them away, it’s almost like opening up a beautiful present once it’s time to get them out for the warmer months.

Check out this blog post on How to clean artificial plants.

Tip #3 – Bag them up.

You’ll probably want to store larger artificial trees and plants in an out-of-the-way corner of your basement or storage space, but storing them for that long can leave them dusty unless you cover them up. Consider using a Christmas tree bag for larger faux trees and plants. Simply cover it up and pull the drawstring.

For medium-size plants and flowers that are still too big to put on a shelf, consider using an old sheet to cover them up. Your artificial outdoor trees and plants will come out in the spring dust-free, which means you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time cleaning your plants.

Tip #4 Protect your wreaths.

Artificial wreaths can be difficult to store because of their shape. They don’t fit nicely on a shelf, and if you hang them on a hook in your storage space, they end up covered in dust by the time you’re ready to use them again. Wreath storage boxes come in a variety of sizes, perfect for any faux wreath.

Some storage containers even hold two wreaths. Keep your wreaths clean and protected throughout the winter by putting them in a storage container made specifically for their round shape.

Tip #5 – Use a storage bin.

Plastic storage bins are perfect for storing smaller artificial outdoor plants and flowers. The best way to store faux flower arrangements is to simply set them in a bin and close the lid. This way, they don’t get crushed and are protected from dirt and damp.

For smaller arrangements like this Echevaria in Glass arrangement, consider a storage box with movable dividers, so you can store more than one arrangement in a bin.