Whilst the
weather might be freezing outside, the gardeners amongst us are sat twiddling
their green thumbs waiting impatiently for the warmer months to quickly appear.
Add to this the thump of gardening catalogues landing on doorsteps and Monty
Don on your television screens…well you get the picture!
No matter
how young or old a person if you love gardening this love will never disappear.
What will unfortunately go is the ability to look after a garden; whether due
to health or simply because a new home may not have a garden of its own.
There is
however a way that you can still enjoy the simple pleasures of growing
favourite plants (and even vegetables) and that is in containers. A small
balcony or patio can be transformed with some beautifully planted pots whether
they are brimming with flowers or full of Mediterranean herbs and salad leaves,
it is just a question of following some simple rules.
Choose
your container wisely
If it is
beautiful without plants imagine what it would be like with them in! If you
have always used plastic now is the time to look at other options; after all we
are all trying to reduce the use of plastic! Traditional terracotta always
looks classy and weathers beautifully, but you can also have metals, wood,
stone, or sometimes biodegradable materials. Consider how frost hardy they will
be if they are to stay outside during the colder months and make sure it has
drainage holes. When you find your pot buy one of the nifty stands as well so
that you can move it about easily.
Start at
the bottom and build up
The first
layer in the pot should be drainage. Traditionally this has been old pots (not
plastic) broken into pieces or “crocks”, with any curved pieces covering (but
not blocking) the drainage holes but you can also use old crockery that has
been smashed into pieces (be careful!). Search on the internet and you will see
many more suggestions including old tea bags and cloths! Whatever you use you
will soon discover which works best for you.
Get the
best compost
The buzz
words are now “peat free”. All gardeners should now be aware of the damage to
the environment harvesting peat is causing so we can all do our bit by choosing
peat-free; after all, if Monty Don is telling us to do it shouldn’t we listen?
All the major brands provide this option, and it is readily available in
gardening centres; if yours doesn’t stock it ask why not! A general-purpose
compost is perfect for containers; even better if has feed and moisture
retaining granules in it!
The
plants!
This is the
best bit! Whether you choose to have one striking hue, a tonal display or just
a riot of colour, your container should brim over with plant joy. The best
containers see you well through a season so consider using lots of different
sizes, shapes, and heights to make sure it will look good as plants grow and
die back. Ivy is always a good starting point as it trails beautifully and
softens any edges. It also stays looking good whatever the season! If you are
planting for summer interspace with trailing lobelia or geraniums. Choose a
centrepiece; a large waving grass, a beautiful fuchsia, a rose… just make sure
it has some height! Next plant any bulbs you are using… Ranunculus are lovely and come in a myriad of
colours whilst alliums are stunning, and the bees love them! Finally, add your
other plants. Here the sky’s the limit! Look for plants that say suitable for
containers or do your own thing by planting a selection of herbs dotted around
a rosemary bush.
Tend with
Loving Care
Now you have
your beautiful container make sure it stays looking good by watering it
frequently remembering that it in hot weather it may need watering first thing
in the morning and last thing at night. A feed every week can also help. Make
sure you dead head any spent flowers as this encourages new ones to form.
And that’s
it… a quick guide to container gardening from our talented gardening team at
Richmond Villages. Why not start planning yours now by visiting a local garden
centre, reading specialist books, or watching a gardening programme such as
Gardener’s World? Happy gardening!
By Nicola Jackson, Senior Village Adviser,
Richmond Villages Nantwich