Bring your containers to life with seasonal ideas from our columnist Isabelle Palmer, The Balcony Gardener PL ANT OF THE MONTH
Lemon verbena
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ith a spear-shaped leaf, Aloysia citrodora is a delicious and lemony herb with a hint of ginger, ZKLFK ġRZHUV IURP -XQH WR 1RYHPEHU and can be planted directly outdoors from April after the last frost. Start with a purchased plant or a cutting and plant in a 30cm pot. Grow it in full sun or partial afternoon shade, making sure to water well throughout the summer DQG IHHG HYHU\ WZR ZHHNV 7R KDUYHVW FXW MXVW DERYH D SDLU RI OHDYHV &XWWLQJ SUHYHQWV WKH plant from becoming ‘leggy’; it grows better with regular pruning and remains a compact shape in the SRW &XW EDFN WR KDOI its size in the autumn. Keep the pot in a sheltered place in winter; some protection may be needed as it is a tender plant, so doesn’t deal well with freezing temperatures.
CAN SMALL GARDENS BE LUXE? YES. HERE’S HOW…
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ant to add some glamour to your garden for the summer? No matter how small your space, it couldn’t be easier. If a cultivated, formal container style is your thing, choose simple topiary and classic container flowers. The form and shape will be neat and easy to maintain, giving a streamlined, luxe look. Keep any evergreen structural plants on their own in single pots. Mix and match other plants for a long-lasting spring/summer pot display. Restrict the colour scheme – just two or three complementary shades – to up the style stakes. White, purple, pink and blue all stand out and work well together. I started my container garden collection with these
plants which, while not perhaps the most adventurous, still pack a punch: laurel, lavender, rosemary, yew, ilex, Mexican orange blossom, geraniums and hydrangeas. When composing container displays, think about ‘thriller, filler and spiller’ – choose a focal plant and complement it with upright plants at the back, plus some that fill in the middle and others that will trail over the sides. Decorate one wall with dark green tiles or paint the bottom half of a fence in dark green or grey – it will help plants to really stand out and change the reflective light. Add plenty of uplighters to complete the glamorous look. Turn the page for Isabelle’s pick of the best topiary and container plants. Follow her on Instagram @thebalconygardener
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