In this alpine container display, we’ve combined a variety of sun-loving succulents with bamboo stems, which some solitary bees like to nest in. Keep the pot in the driest and sunniest spot possible, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning display of drought-tolerant plants and even a few nesting bees.
For more ways to grow alpines, check out these projects on creating a vintage container alpine display and planting up an alpine trough.
Follow these easy steps to create your own bee-friendly alpine pot display.
Drill drainage holes in the container if necessary, and then add a 4cm layer of horticultural grit, to aid drainage.
Fill the pot two-thirds full with compost and mix thoroughly with the horticultural grit.
Place the plants in the pot, adding the taller ones towards the back. Firm them well and add more compost around them to fill in any gaps. Water the container and allow to drain.
Add the cut pieces of bamboo, pushing them down into the compost. Angle them to deflect any rain. Cover the compost with a mulch of more horticultural grit, and move to its final position.
This box pyramid container display with ornamental grass and orange osteospermum makes an attractive, year-round feature for a sunny or partially shaded corner. A mulch of gravel gives the container a fresh look, as well as retains moisture in the pot. You Will Need
When summer pots run out of steam, it’s a good idea to replace your displays with plants that will look good in autumn and beyond. We’ve given traditional autumn bedding plants a modern twist by combining them with evergreens and keeping to a limited colour palette. Purple, white and silver make a classy trio, and bring instant glamour to any terrace or balcony. We’ve used five types of plant – ornamental cabbage, brachyglottis, heuchera, cineraria and cyclamen. All should be available at the
Brighten up your usual daffodil container display by adding a few low-growing, flowering plants around the edges in spring. Small pansies and crocus are perfect for growing in containers, and they look stunning against the bright yellow daffodils. Simply plant the bulbs in autumn, and then, once they have started to flower in spring, fill around the edges of the pots with flowering plants to add further interest to the display – you should find a good variety at the garden centre. Here’s how t
Roses and clematis make the perfect planting partners, so why not bring the two together in a large pot display? Here we’ve combined ground cover rose ‘Suffolk’ with maroon-flowered clematis ‘Burma Star’ and a few trailing ivies to complete the look. All plants thrive with the minimum of fuss and will happily romp away, given adequate compost, food and water. Simply deadhead regularly and tie stems into place, and you’ll have an annual display that gets better every year.