This zingy scheme is all about foliage colour and texture, proving you don’t need flowers to provide an interesting display.
The euphorbia and lime heather provide the main colour hit in a container that’s guaranteed to brighten any autumn day. Blue festuca and the red-leaved Nandina offer a contrast, while keeping the overall look simple.
These plants enjoy a bright spot, so place the container where it will get winter sunshine. Don’t be too quick to dismantle this container as the euphorbia will produce lovely flowers in the spring.
If you’re looking for more to do in autumn, take a look at our top 4 jobs for wildlife in autumn, or create dead wood habitats.
Follow our easy steps to create this euphorbia and lime heather container.
Place a layer of crocks or broken polystyrene on the bottom of your pot to ensure good drainage.
Add peat-free, multi-purpose compost to the container until two-thirds full. Mix in some slow-release fertiliser.
Position the tallest plants first – in this case the euphorbia and nandina – teasing out the roots as you go. As a general rule, the taller the plant, the further towards the back of your container it should go.
Add the remaining shorter plants to the front and sides, then fill in the gaps with more compost, firming down well with your hands. Water the container well and move it to its final position. It’s important not to let the compost dry out.
Osteospermums are perfect for growing in pots, offering a long season of pretty flowers for a sunny corner. Here, we’ve combined osteospermums with ornamental grass and santolina, whose foliage brings out the purple of the flowers. You Will Need
Bring life to a shady corner with these shade-loving favourites. The lime-green leaves of the fern contrast beautifully with the chequered purple snake’s head fritillaries. Perfect for spring, once you’re finished with the display, simply transplant the plants into your garden and repot the container with a fresh set of plants for summer.
While many container displays are looking past their best by August, this late-summer display will brighten up a corner of the patio right through autumn. The fiery colours of the crocosmia, rudbeckia and penstemon contrast beautifully with the evergreen foliage of pheasant’s tail grass. What to plant in August You Will Need
This simple container display is perfect for a shady corner. The large, glossy leaves of the bergenia look fantastic all year round, while its pink flowers combine with those of the thrift to add a splash of colour in spring. Both plants are perennial so, once you have finished with your display, transfer them into the garden. You W