How to plant a spring container

1 Make sure your container has drainage holes and crocks. Add general-purpose compost so it’s two-thirds full. You should be aiming to make it feel full and lush – nothing is sadder than a half-empty pot.

2 Start with a centrepiece – usually a bigger feature plant in the middle. Try fuchsia, primroses, polyanthus and geraniums or hebe. Nestle it into compost so it sits straight and fill in with compost to hold it in place. 3 Plant lower-growing colourful bedding plants, such as primroses, pansies, ornamental cabbages or polyanthus, around the centrepiece. 4 Add trailing plants, such as ivy and trailing geraniums, around the edges to drape down the sides of the container. 5 Pack fresh compost around plants so they are snug. Get the final compost level a couple of centimetres below the rim so it won’t spill out when you water. Containers under the eaves of the house need extra watering because they are shielded from rainfall. Some garden centres sell pot stands on wheels so you can move them depending on weather.