Plant a spring container

In early spring garden centres and nurseries are filled with beautiful flowering bedding plants, such as violas, pansies, primulas and spring flowering bulbs. Partner these with a stylish new planter and create a beautiful focal point of colour that you can see from your kitchen or living room window.

It could be a window box, a container or even a hanging basket; the idea is simply to create something that will lift your spirits on dull days before spring and summer truly arrive.

Pots and containers make the perfect gift, empty or planted and can be married with a wide variety of plants to suit any tastes or style. Why not create a pot of edible salads, plant a tree or a shrub or even just use the pot to decorate the garden as an ornament?

Spring container step by step

Create a planter for the patio or beside the front door to create colour and drama. Large or small, a spring display will lift your spirits and be a long lasting attraction in your garden.

1. Choose a large pot or planter suitable for outdoor use.
2. Fill the bottom of the planter with gravel or crocks (broken flower pots) to aid drainage.
3. Part-fill the planter with a quality container compost such as Richard Jackson’s Premium Multi Purpose Compost. It contains plant food to sustain your plants for the first few weeks of growth.
4. Add a little Container Magic to reduce the need for watering, boost plant growth and help the roots absorb more water and nutrients.
5. Choose some flowering plants that complement the container and position them in the planter where you think they will look the best. We chose lovely pink hyacinths and rich pink polyanthus.

   

6. Remove the plants from their pots, gently tease out any pot-bound roots and place them in their final positions. Infill around them with more compost, firm in and water with slightly tepid water. Top up the compost if necessary.
7. Choose a contrasting pot topper and use them to cover over the compost so that it doesn’t show.
8. Position your planter in its final position where you can see it from window indoors and enjoy.
9. Keep it watered in dry weather and remove any dead flowers as they die back.
10. Feed weekly with Flower Power to keep your plants healthy and flowering for longer.
11. You can keep your planter colourful all year round by replacing plants such as bulbs as they finish flowering with summer bedding and perennials.