Tabla de contenidos para Creative Containers en BBC Gardeners' World

All you need for a splash of autumn colour is a small space on a patio or doorstep. While the season conjures up images of gardens ablaze with vibrant leaf colour, you don’t need a large canvas for big impact. You can bring the fiery shades of autumn into your space with a well-planted container that will look good into winter. Our patios and doorsteps are bursting with colour during the summer months, but often look dull during autumn without bright bedding to boost the display. But with some considered plant shopping it’s possible to create striking containers that will provide interest for months. Take your pick from an array of textural grasses, late flowers, glossy evergreens and berrying shrubs, which can all be transferred into borders come spring. We…

At this time of year, it’s more important than ever to have plenty of vibrant container displays. To create planting combinations that brighten up a dull winter day, look for plants with bright red berries, vivid stems that stand out, and variegated foliage that will catch any available light. There are also many that will flower even when it’s cold – fill pots with snowdrops, hellebores and winter bedding. Embrace the bauble-like berries of gaultheria, scarlet stems of cornus and glossy green holly leaves – just a few of the fantastic plants to look for this season. There are also winter-flowering shrubs such as heathers, skimmia and viburnum that will add structure to pots, as well as cheery colour to your patio or doorstep. We used How to plant up…

POTS FIBRECLAY POTS (including faux lead) The Pot Company 01892 890 353, thepotco.com Woodlodge woodlodge.co.uk(for your nearest stockist) GLAZED POTS Apta 01233 621 090, apta.co.uk(for your nearest stockist) The Pot Company 01892 890 353, thepotco.com Woodlodge woodlodge.co.uk (for your nearest stockist) METAL POTS (including galvanised, zinc, recycled and contemporary) Primrose 01189 035 210, primrose.co.uk Etsy (recycled pots) etsy.com Garden Brocante 0118 940 2967, facebook.com/gardenbrocante/ PLASTIC POTS (including terracotta lookalikes) The Garden Superstore 01903 258 200, thegardensuperstore.co.uk Webbs 01527 860 000, webbsdirect.co.uk STONE POTS (including reconstituted stone) Haddonstone 01604 770 711, haddonstone.com/en-gb The Pot Company 01892 890 353, thepotco.com TorStone www.torstone.com TERRACOTTA POTS Apta 01233 621 090, apta.co.uk (for your nearest stockist) Pots and Pithoi 01342 714 793, potsandpithoi.com The Pot Company 01892 890 353, thepotco.com Whichford Pottery 01608 684 416,…

Spring containers should be bursting with bulbs, early-flowering perennials or even evergreen shrubs that will produce flowers to brighten the garden while the days are still cool. For a cheering splash of colour, nothing beats spring-flowering bulbs in pots. If you haven’t had time to plant in autumn, buy bulbs in pots at the garden centre to plant for instant impact. They’re easy to grow, low maintenance and guaranteed to put on a show. When putting plants together choose flowers and foliage in complementary or contrasting shades for maximum impact. If you are planting in autumn, why not try planting bulbs in layers, topped with choice shrubs, perennials and bedding, known as ‘lasagne planting’ for a succession of blooms. We used How to plant bulbs Growing bulbs in containers is one…

Summer is the perfect time to plant up containers with bedding, long-flowering perennials and shrubs that will fill your patio with colour for months on end. Planting hanging baskets, window boxes and pots is easy with our container recipes – there are so many ways to transform an entrance or patio. If you’re looking for simple options, there are plenty of plants such as lavender or flowering shrubs that will make a focal point on their own, while floriferous bedding and stalwart perennials such as erysimum or hardy geraniums will keep blooming for weeks if your pots are kept well watered. For pots placed next to doorways, look for scented plants and include a mix of upright and trailing varieties to soften the edge of the pots. We used How…

When you’re short of space in the garden, squeezing in fruit and veg can be tricky. It’s amazing how many varieties grow happily in pots, from easy-going salads, strawberries and herbs to climbing beans, peas and tomatoes. Most are good looking enough to proudly display on your patio. For the best results when combining vegetables, choose varieties that crop at similar times and enjoy the same growing conditions. Or make a feature out of a single vegetable in a pot. Choose the largest containers you have room for and pamper your veg with daily watering and regular liquid feeds for a blend of colour, texture and, above all, flavour throughout the season. We used How to plant summer veg in pots The best way to fit more crops into a…