Arit’s summer pots for hot spots

Arit Anderson shares how to combine stylish displays that love basking in the sun

I do love August (not just because it’s my birth month!) as at this time of year the baton has been truly handed over to the high-summer plant palette. The colours are rich and intense, with the likes of dahlias and salvias continuing to reward us with flowers in return for us deadheading them.

Our patios still exude warmth well into the evening from the heat of the daytime sun, extending our stay in the garden. This is when containers come into their own – they can literally chase the sun as we move them around to their greatest vantage point.

Bringing together a family of containers, similarly coloured or shaped, will reflect some of the principles of great design – unity, simplicity and harmony. And if you have a gap in your border, you can use a container as a filler or as a great way to experiment to see if you like a new plant, before committing to giving it a permanent home.