Planting An Autumn/Winter Container

As the summer comes to a close it’s time to think about replacing containers and baskets with ones that will give colour and interest for the autumn and winter months.  There are many plants that can be used to brighten up patios, porches and other areas of the garden to make it feel welcoming.  Follow our step-by-step guide to plant up your own, or alternatively we will have plenty of ready made baskets and containers to purchase.  

Today we are planting a 15” container, but any size container or basket can be used adjusting the number of plants accordingly.  

You will need: 

1 x 15” diameter container with drainage holes in the bottom 

Polystyrene

Multi-purpose compost 

Vermiculite (helps with drainage) 

Fish, Blood & Bone 

String

Plants - we have used:

1 x  red Cordyline for centre 

2 x plants to create structure around the central plant: 1 x Heuchera Palace Purple, 1 x Calluna (heathers) 

4 x pansies for filler plants 

2 x trailing plants: 1 x Thyme Silver Posie, 1 x Lysimachia (Creeping Jenny) 

(Please note that we may not always have the exact named varieties of plants listed above when you visit us, but we will have a large selection of plants suitable for creating gorgeous containers and baskets.) 

Note before starting:

Keep any eye on the positions of the colours of the plants as you add them to your container to ensure that you create a pleasing balanced effect.  It can be a good idea to pop the plants into the container while they are still in there pots to get an overall effect of how they will look before you plant them.   

Instructions: 

Place a good layer of polystyrene into the bottom of the container. 

Mix some vermiculite into the multi-purpose compost. 

Fill the pot with the compost mix up to approximately 1.5 inches from the top rim. 

Sprinkle a handful of Blood, Fish & Bone over the top of the compost and mix into gently.  

Make a hole in the centre of the compost, pop the Cordyline plant in and gently bring the compost around the plant.  

Gently gather up the Cordyline leaves and tie loosely together to keep them out of the way while you plant the other plants.  

Next plant the Heuchera approximately one inch from the rim of the pot.  

Leaving a gap for a filler pansy, plant the Calluna using the same method.  

Turn the pot, leave another gap and plant the Thyme. 

Turn the pot again, leave another gap and plant the Lysimachia. 

Keep turning the pot and plant the four pansies into the gaps between the structural and trailing plants.  

When you have finished planting, tap the edges of the container to settle the soil in.  

Place the container into your chosen position and water.