Potting on a show Dress up your garden with containers filled with flowers, foliage – or both!

containers are the essential exterior decoration. Easy to create, they always capture attention and you can replant and refresh them whenever you feel like it. You don’t need a big collection – just a few striking pots can transform your garden scene.

There’s a touch of artistry to container gardening, too. First of all you get to select a gorgeous container; then it becomes a story of composition, texture and colour as you arrange the plant life into a ‘potted painting’. Add to that the versatility of pots, where any hard surface becomes a potential planting zone, and what’s not to love?!

MAKING POT PICTURES

• Choose your container

When it comes to container style, buy what you love! Just bear in mind that certain designs, such as stainless steel troughs, will instantly produce a modern look, while styles such as classical urns will say ‘traditional formality’. The best advice is to try to match the containers to your house and garden style.

In terms of size, make sure the pot is large enough for the plant it will hold (especially important with shrubs and trees) and ensure it has a drainage hole or holes. When choosing pots for balconies or roof gardens, where weight might pose a problem, go for lightweight containers.

• Perfect placement

Work out where to position pots within your garden design for the most impact. They make perfect focal points, so look at spots like front doors and front steps, the perimeter of terraces and patios, or just beyond doors and windows that connect with the garden.

GROWING BASICS

A container garden has just three ingredients: pot, plants and potting mix. So you can pick up everything you need on a trip to the nursery and be home and finished your planting in just a few hours. But remember, just like plants in the garden, they’ll need ongoing care to keep them looking good. Here are the basics of planting and maintaining your containers.

• Planting

Prepare your pot by placing a layer of gravel or large pieces of a broken terracotta pot at the base of the container. Part-fill the container with potting mix, up to the level required to comfortably fit the root ball into the container, then add a slowrelease fertiliser and water crystals (if your potting mix doesn’t

already include them). Arrange plants in the container, ensuring they are relatively straight, and backfill with more potting mix, leaving a 2cm gap between the soil level and the rim of the pot. Firm with your fingers and water well.

• Feeding

Keep your container plants thriving by feeding them regularly through spring and summer. Water-soluble fertilisers such as Yates Thrive or Scotts Miracle-gro are great for regular liquid feeding of flowers and vegetables. For permanent plantings, such as shrubs or climbers, feed with a slow-release fertiliser a couple of times a year.

• Watering

This is one of the most important aspects of container gardening. Some containers will need watering every day through the summer, while others may go without for several days. To check, plunge a finger into the soil and, if it’s dry, give it a good, thorough drink.

• Trimming

Deadhead flower displays regularly, as this really helps to prolong their blooming (make it a regular job as you walk by). Give shrubs and trees at least an annual pruning to keep them dense and shapely. And, of course, be prepared to trim constantly if you choose topiary plants.