SPRING PLANTER

Do it

TIME AT HOME

Treat your mum to a SPRING PLANTER

Create a colourful spring bulb display with help from Dobbies’ houseplant buyer, Claire Bishop

Using pre-loved dainty teacups, milk jugs and bowls as planters for small spring blooms is a great way to give them a new lease of life. What’s more, they’re a quick and easy Mother’s Day gift that’ll bring joy as the flowers bloom.

YOU WILL NEED

Metal bucket, teacup or bowl Gravel Compost Tête-à-tête daffodil bulbs Hyacinth bulbs Moss Luggage tag or plant marker and chalk (optional)

1START WITH A CLEAN CONTAINER Once you have chosen your planter, the first step is to give it a good clean inside and out with warm soapy water, as this will reduce the chance of infection by pests and diseases. Make sure you rinse and dry it thoroughly. 2 PREPARE FOR DRAINAGE Add gravel to the teacup to help with drainage. Unless you decide to drill a small hole in the base, you’ll just need to be careful not to overwater. Fill with compost. 3 ENCOURAGE GROWTH Before placing the plant in the container, loosen the roots as this will encourage them to grow when you (or your mum) come to repot them. They just need to be gently teased by the fingertips to avoid any damage to the plant. 4 CHOOSE A SELECTION OF BULBS Finally, plant up with Tête-à-tête daffodil and hyacinth bulbs in different shades and top the vintage planters with a layer of moss. For a personalised touch, you could tie a luggage tag to the handle with a note for the recipient. 5 GET A HELPING HAND Dobbies also provides a free container planting service meaning you can simply choose your plants and take your teacups (old or new) to one of its experts, leaving with a ready-made gift for Mum. Various potted bulbs, from £2.99; potted Narcissus Tête-à-tête bulbs, £2.99 for 1ltr, all Dobbies

Finish with a personalised tag

3 of the best PLANT MARKERS SUNNY STICKS Plant labels, £7.50, Garden Gear at Not onthehighstreet.com CHALK IT UP Slate plant tags, £12 for six, Garden Trading ON THE MARK Wood herb marker bundle, £3 each, The Contemporary Home ADD DRAINAGE TO A METAL BUCKET CONTAINER BY PIERCING SEVERAL HOLES IN THE BASE WITH A DRILL OR NAIL AND HAMM ER ‘This is such a simple idea but these planted teacups make a memorable gift. They look lovely displayed inside or out, and will continue to bloom beyond Mother’s Day.’ FEATURE STEPHANIE DURRANT PROJECT DOBBIES