Keep the colour in your garden this winter with our how-to guide on planting your autumn to spring bedding.
Planting autumn to spring bedding
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As summer bedding fades, replace it with plants for winter and spring colour. Try winter-flowering pansies, violas, bellis daisies, polyanthus, primulas, wallflowers or sweet William. Plant in early autumn so they establish before the cold.
Prepare the container. Choose a pot or basket with good drainage. If needed, put a crock or stone loosely over the hole to keep it clear, then fill with suitable compost and firm lightly.
Arrange before planting. Put taller plants in the middle, or at the back if the pot sits against a wall. Set shorter plants around the edge. Plant close enough for a full display, as growth slows in cool weather.
Soften the edge with a trailing plant such as ivy or periwinkle. For more spring colour, add a few dwarf bulbs. Water the display in well.
