Aftercare

As star jasmine requires shelter from cold, drying winds, it’s best to station your project against a wall that faces south or south-west. Echinacea also likes plenty of sun.

Drainage holes

It is important to ensure that all containers have a drainage hole or holes in the bottom. Most plants dislike sitting in very wet soil, so excess water needs to be able to drain out of the container to prevent the potting mix becoming waterlogged. Although most containers already have drainage holes, recycled items, such as metal buckets or wooden crates, probably won’t. However, it is easy to make holes in these with a hammer and heavy-duty nail. Just turn the container over and hit the nail hard with the hammer to make a series of holes in the bottom. You can also use an electric drill to make the holes. Obviously, containers made from stone, terracotta or ceramics cannot be treated in this way, in which case use them for indoor plants or, if you keep them outdoors, water carefully and keep checking that the potting mix isn’t becoming too waterlogged.

This project is taken from Modern Container Gardening by Isabelle Palmer (£16, Hardie Grant)