Autumn is the ideal time to plant tulip bulbs. They’re container-friendly and planting in a pot will give a beautiful display wherever you want it.
Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of a large container to provide drainage. Add multi-purpose or peat-free potting compost, filling the pot to 20cm below the rim.
Firm the compost down and place the tulip bulbs about 5-7cm apart, with their tips pointing up.
Cover with more compost, filling the pot to within 5cm of the rim. Firm it down between the bulbs as you go.
Water thoroughly to soak the compost. Stand the container in a sheltered position over autumn and winter, ensuring the compost stays moist but does not freeze during cold spells. Move the container into the sun in spring to enjoy flowers during April and May.
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.