Tips for planting pots

Container gardening is a versatile way to brighten up any space, but potted plants need a bit of care and forethought to look their best

• Filling the bottom few centimetres of the container with crocks or grit helps with drainage, and reduces the amount of compost needed as well as the overall weight of the pot. • Plants grown in containers rely entirely on you the gardener for food and water so invest in a good potting compost, see our potting compost guide on page 111 for recommendations, and make sure that you feed plants regularly throughout the summer months. Flowering plants should be fed once a week with a liquid fertiliser during their flowering period. • To help improve water retention in your pot, add water-retaining crystals to the compost. Soil in containers will dry out much more quickly than in the garden and the crystals will help store water. • Mulch your pots to help retain moisture. Options vary from decorative pebbles and bark chippings, to leaf mould and horticultural grit. • If you buy terracotta pots, buy the best you can afford. Cheap terracotta pots will flake or crack during hard frosts. • Plants grown in containers are under more stress than those in the garden and are therefore more susceptible to pests and disease. Treat plants regularly for aphids, vine weevils, slugs and mildew. Check for overwintering pests too, particularly vine weevil larvae, as the grubs will eat away at plant roots. • Don’t skimp on the size of your container. Most plants look better in big groups in large pots, and larger pots retain water better than small ones. • Once filled with soil, planted and watered, your containers will be heavy, so position them first where you want them to end up or invest in a pot roller to help you move them around. • Try to hold back on the number of plants you use when planting up a container for the first time. The arrangement may look skimpy to begin with, but the plants will soon grow and spread to fill out your pot. • Using a rose attachment on your watering can will distribute the water more effectively, and is kinder to young foliage and flowers. It will also prevent soil movement. • Plants in pots and containers need considerably more water than those in the garden. In really hot weather, you will need to water them at least once a day. • Keeping your pots and tools clean will help prevent a build-up of pests and diseases. Brush pots out thoroughly after use, wash with warm soapy water, and dry before storing. • Be careful not to over-pot when repotting. Only repot to a container one size larger than the previous size. Over-potting will result in too much sodden compost for the size of the root ball and could risk the plant becoming anaerobic, causing the yellowing of leaves and root damage. • If you’re going on holiday and can’t rely on neighbours to look after your plants while you’re away, move your containers to a shady spot and group them together. Water well before you leave, and if the weather is really dry, consider putting the containers in a tub of water.