Make your plants the stars of the show

Perk up your garden with some last-minute splashes of colour. Hannah Stephenson tells us how to get the pots involved

So, summer’s here and you’ve left it late to get your summer patio plants in their pots and ready to add some colour to your outdoor space. Don’t despair though, because leaving it late can have its advantages. You’re likely to get bedding bargains as the garden centres sell off their summer annuals and you’ll still be able to enjoy pots of colour throughout July and August and even into September if you look after them and choose wisely.

Late-summer blooms such as dahlias and lilies can help make summer containers last into autumn, so consider putting a few of them in to prolong your season.

Here’s our step-by-step guide to planting up some summer colour for your patio, even if it’s late in the day...

Check that annuals aren’t pot-bound

When choosing bedding, try to avoid plants which have loads of roots sticking out of the bottom of the pot.

It’s an indicator that the plants have been in there for far too long and it can make it tricky to remove the plants from their containers.

Make sure plants have good drainage

Line the base of pots with drainage holes with crocks (bits of broken pot) or some other material, which will allow free drainage.

Most patio plants won’t enjoy sitting in water and wet roots.

I usually use the polystyrene I bought the bedding plants in because it’s lighter than crocks if you are going to be moving the pots around.

Then fill the pot with multi-purpose compost to around three-quarters full, adding water-retaining crystals to the mix.

Structure your display

Put your main plant in first. It should be taller than the trailers which go around it and will spill over the side of the pot.

The tall plant will form the framework for the rest of the display. Firm it in with more compost.

Fill around the edges with smaller plants such as trailing lobelia, bacopa and verbena, adding compost as you go.

Often people will use a miniature conifer to make the tall aspect of the display. But upright geraniums or osteospermums in smaller containers can also be used just as easily.

More exotic plants like spiky cordylines or exotic-looking cannas are also ideal for bigger pots or to help create a more tropical-looking display. Feed your plants Add granular feed to the compost mix to keep it going through summer and beyond. There are many formulas on the market, which help reduce the need for feeding the plant throughout the summer.

Many composts also contain water-retaining and feeding elements.

Keep them well watered

Water newly-planted plants well. If it’s dry, they will needed watered once every day and in prolonged dry spells, twice a day.

Do it early in the morning or at dusk to reduce evaporation.

Remember that the smaller the pot, the more watering the plants will need because there will be limited compost to retain the moisture.

Go for the largest pots you have to avoid being a slave to the watering can or hose pipe.

You’re not too late for colour – but don’t delay any longer.