We seem to be in a mild spell at the moment and garden work is pleasant. Autumn often means lots of heavy garden work: emptying compost heaps, digging, tree planting, mulching or ‘big pruning’. So it is a relief to spend some time doing less physical and more creative jobs. Planting patio pots definitely fall into this category and it is a chance to plant for spring colour and splash out on some special plants.
When planting solely for spring colour, it can be inexpensive and a chance to be clever with colour. Fill pots with compost, plant your spring bulbs, principally tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, and top the pot with violas. There will be some colour from the violas all winter but then masses of blooms from March onwards and great splashes of tulips.
But I like to plant at least one pot for winter interest, lasting into spring. Principally evergreen shrubs, the plants will not grow much in winter so they need to be packed in to make a good effect, surrounded with bedding plants for spring colour and extra bulbs.
This might sound expensive but there is a bonus. All these shrubs can be removed from the pots in May, when you want to plant your summer flowers, and be planted in the garden. They will then provide colour and interest for years to come. In this way I can convince myself that the winter pots actually cost very little to plant! All the shrubs are going to be recycled!
Your pot will be outside all winter so you need to protect the plants and pot from frost. The compost in the pot will freeze in frosty weather and it will expand. This will crack terracotta and ceramic pots though plastic pots may also be damaged. You can wrap insulation around the pots to protect them but this doesn’t look very attractive. A better method is to line the sides, inside the pot, with bubble plastic.
It can be fiddly as you fill with compost but it is worth it. Do not line the base because that can impede drainage. Then add your compost.
One other thing. If you do not have help with lifting, make sure you plant the pot where you want it to be all winter – it will be very heavy when planted.
When it comes to your plants, chose whatever you like and what looks good together. You can pack the plants in to give a full effect but you can mix in some seasonal plants like violas or cyclamen and replace them when you like. I chose a pittosporum and phormium, both in green and cream but with very different foliage. I know exactly where these are going next spring! And I added a hellebore ‘Winter Moonbeam’ with beautifully marbled leaves and green and white flowers from December. These ‘special’ hellebores cost a bit more but they are great in the garden and this is how I add a new one each year – enjoying it in a pot the first season and then adding them to my part-shaded borders where they get bigger and better every spring.
Make sure they are well watered before planting, work compost around the roots carefully and tuck in the plastic to hide it.
Then you can add some bedding plants for colour and pop in some bulbs between the roots of the shrubs. I chose some yellow and white tulips that will bloom in April and May, but you could add any colour you like. Just make sure the tulips are tall enough to bloom above the foliage of the shrubs.
Once all is planted, give a good watering and keep the compost moist throughout winter. Have fun.
Weekly Jobs
Go on a snail hunt. As it gets cooler they tend to collect under the rims of pots, behind the water butt and other sheltered places. These were all found on a bag of compost leaning against the shed!
Complete your bulb planting as soon as possible.
Cut back roses and buddleias to shorten them and help reduce winter storm damage.
Plant garlic
Take hardwood cuttings of currants, forsythia and other hardy shrubs (more details in two weeks)