Prepping Containers for Winter - Ask Extension
Do I need to totally empty containers that can withstand Denver winters? And, if so, must they be washed or can they just be hosed a down to get off ...
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Prepping Containers for Winter #922126
Asked November 18, 2025, 3:18 PM EST
Do I need to totally empty containers that can withstand Denver winters? And, if so, must they be washed or can they just be hosed a down to get off loose dirt. I have not done this for several years and some of my plants return each spring.
Thank you.
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Ellen,
Here is a link to a CO state extension Plant Talk sheet on overwintering container plants. https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/miscellaneous/2028-overwintering-container-plants/
For the pots with no plants, the type of pot is important. Terracotta pots absorb water and it is best to empty them and store where they will not absorb water from the ground and crack. You can leave the soil in more durable pots and move them to a covered area or cover them to prevent water and snow from getting in. Elevating them off the ground also helps protect them through the winter.
Here is a link to an article from Oklahoma extension on reusing the soil left in the pots next spring.
https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2023/reusing_potting_soil.html
Here is a link to a CO state extension Plant Talk sheet on overwintering container plants. https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/miscellaneous/2028-overwintering-container-plants/
For the pots with no plants, the type of pot is important. Terracotta pots absorb water and it is best to empty them and store where they will not absorb water from the ground and crack. You can leave the soil in more durable pots and move them to a covered area or cover them to prevent water and snow from getting in. Elevating them off the ground also helps protect them through the winter.
Here is a link to an article from Oklahoma extension on reusing the soil left in the pots next spring.
https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2023/reusing_potting_soil.html
