PICK POTS of the th

Almost any plant can be grown in a container, so you can be endlessly creative when filling your spring and summer pots

The wonderful thing about container gardening is that the combinations are limitless. And there’s no need to wait until summer bedding plants arrive: you can start right now, by combining pretty-leaved perennials with colourful shrubs and herbs, then add seasonal annuals and flowering perennials in a few months’ time to transform the look of your containers all over again. To get started, all you need is a large pot (we have a wide selection in store), a bag of peat-free compost, slow-release plant food, and three or four plants. Once you have a combination that you’re happy with, pop your pot in its final location, and water well.

Vibrant Tones For Sun

This sun-loving plant combination is all about contrasting colour tones – the dramatic leaves of a purple-leaved Heuchera pop against the variegated foliage of Hebe ‘Celebration’ Add silvery-grey lavender, like ‘Munstead’, and the dainty scented flowers of Nemesia ‘Confetti’ and you have a medley of dusky purples and pinks, freshened up with zesty lime-green. Combine in a white pot, to enhance the colours, and position in full sun.

More Plants For A Sunny Pot

1 Choose the correct type – specialist peatfree composts are now available, including soilbased recipes with added John Innes, ericaceous compost for acid-loving plants, and moisture control options for tubs and baskets.

2 Add some garden soil, if you have it – peat-free compost can be light in texture,

Tasty Herbs For Picking

If you don’t have space for a herb garden, you can create the same effect in a large planter or trough – like this clever wheeled indoor/ outdoor design. Fill it almost all the way to the top with peat-free compost, then choose a selection of aromatic herbs that you like to cook with Most culinary herbs don’t grow very large, so you can plant them fairly close together Water well, when you initially plant them, then water again whenever the compost feels dry.

GET THE BEST FROM PEAT-FREE COMPOST

so adding garden soil will help to retain moisture in a container It will also make the pot heavier, to help avoid tall plants blowing over.

3 If your plants are likely to be in the pot for some time, add some plant feed – either as slowrelease granules when planting your container, or as a liquid feed later.

For example, Westland Boost has been formulated to suit peat-free compost, and is easy to apply, diluted in a watering can.

4 Avoid over-watering – the surface of peat-free compost can look dry when the compost below is still moist. So, check the compost below the surface, to avoid waterlogged plant roots.