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 to plant this container display.
In autumn, half fill the pot with compost and plant bulbs on the surface. Cover with compost to almost fill the pot, water thoroughly and leave until spring.
In spring, once the bulbs have grown and started to flower, fill around the edges with low-growing plants. Knock the pansies and crocuses from their pots and place equally around the edges of the pot. Fill around the gaps, and water well.
The rich colours of the bronze-leaved fennel and euphorbia complement the colour of the warm terracotta pot beneath. Tall euphorbia stems give height to the display while the wispy, feathery foliage of the fennel adds texture and movement. Weaving through display are delicate saxifrages, which bring spots of colour among the foliage.
In this simple container display we combine Lavender ‘Hidcote’ with purple-flowered pansies. The green glazed pot brings out the colour of the foliage, which contrasts beautifully with the purple blooms. Inexpensive and long-lasting, it’s the perfect pot for a sunny corner. You Will Need
In this stylish pot, a purple osteospermum and hebe combine with a green fern for a classy, long-lasting display. The striking, colourful foliage of the hebe complements the flowers. Choose plants that vary in height to make a display with interest at all levels – ferns are ideal for the ‘backbone’ of a pot. The fern that we’ve used, Dryopteris affinis, is semi-evergreen, and the hebe is evergreen, which means you could switch the osteospermum for a winter bedding plant when summer ends.
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