GOING OUT WITH A BANG

The log store is not the most attractive area so I decided to brighten it with some lush plants in a Victorian water carrier. Dahlias are magnificent in late summer into autumn and ‘Glorie van Heemstede’ and ‘Jescot Julie’ are two of my favourites. The dark-leaved Perilla complements the flowers of Solenostemon ‘Chocolate Mint’, while the shyly trailing Calibrachoa Can-can Double Dark Yellow repeats the yellow of Dahlia ‘Glorie van Heemstede’.

How to achieve the look

The background is very dark, so the pale-yellow flowers of Dahlia ‘Glorie van Heemstede’ show up well. The petals of Dahlia ‘Jescot Julie’ have a purple underside, providing a subtle link with the Verbena bonariensis, the Perilla frutescens var. crispa and the rich foliage of Solenostemon ‘Chocolate Mint’. Plants with dark flowers and leaves add depth to any display and make lighter colours shine even more. To achieve a different effect, you could easily change the colours of the dahlias, and use some tall grasses or Plectranthus argentatus to make the display lighter. For me, it is important that the planting achieves height and volume to balance the dimensions of the container. A water carrier is an ideal, if extravagant, planter. It’s easy to move and its volume allows for a great amount of compost. I have drilled several holes in the base of the container, and covered them with a few crocks and a bag of hydroleca, which is light and allows for good drainage. Good-quality, multi-purpose compost with a weekly liquid feed will nurture the display until the first strong frost. Staking is essential, especially for the dahlias. I usually use hazel sticks, because they seem to disappear among the plants and are readily available. After the first frost I will save the dahlia tubers, plant out the verbena and compost the rest, then wheel the container into the garage.