![\"Euonymus](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/08\/f383d58a-75c8-4fc4-81a8-58849a7a0a01-e8d6964.jpg\" "\\"Euonymus")
<\/p>\nPots and containers offer the gardener great versatility and are a fantastic way to experiment with planting and design. From short-term bedding displays to permanent features of small trees and topiary, planting in pots adds another dimension to the garden, softening corners, brightening dull spots and providing instant, yet easily changeable, results.<\/p>\n
When choosing your pot, stick to just one or two different materials. Take your cue from the style of the house and garden \u2013 red brick buildings are enhanced by terracotta containers, while a modern plot is the best backdrop for galvanised metal pots. Bigger pots have more impact, and plants growing in them won’t dry out as quickly, but an eclectic group of small containers creates a quirky, ever-changing scene. Repetition can be effective \u2013 garden designers often use three or more identical containers planted with the same plants, for maximum impact.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Variegated foliage is a real pick-me-up all year round. For a striking display, try it with creeping Jenny<\/a>\u00a0(Lysimachia nummularia<\/em>), tulips<\/a>, golden narcissi or primroses<\/a>.<\/p>\n This elegant evergreen shrub is available in a range of varieties with differently coloured foliage. ‘Tom Thumb’<\/a> has rich chocolate-purple leaves that emerge a light-green colour before darkening. ‘Variegatum’ has beautiful grey-green foliage with creamy margins, and ‘Golf Ball’<\/a> is a compact variety with mint green leaves.\u00a0Pittosporum tenuifolium<\/em><\/a> is slightly tender, so it will need a sheltered spot over winter.<\/p>\n Skimmia japonica<\/em> is one of the best winter plants for pots. It has glossy evergreen leaves and an abundance of tiny red buds through the winter, which open to white, pinky-white or greenish flowers in spring. Female and hermaphrodite varieties develop red berries during autumn.<\/p>\n Hostas make beautiful architectural plants<\/a> and work well in containers, either alone or with other plants. Try combining with bleeding heart or other foliage plants such as heucheras.<\/p>\n Fountain grass is a real show-stopper. Grow in large pots with alliums<\/a> for dramatic impact or on its own to make a statement. Pennisetum advena<\/em> ‘Rubrum’ has graceful stems and red-tinged, squirrel-tail flowers that fade to beige in autumn. Protect from frost in winter.<\/p>\n Buddleias<\/a> in the ‘Buzz’ series are compact, making them perfect for growing in pots. While they don’t flower all year round and need to be pruned back in spring<\/a>, they will form a perennial display that you can complement with other plants that flower at different seasons.<\/p>\n Many hebes are compact enough to grow in pots. Most have evergreen leaves, and their flowers last well into autumn and even winter when conditions are mild. Flowers range in colour from pinks to purples and whites.<\/p>\n Agapanthus work well in pots, as they do best when their roots are slightly restricted. Grow them on their own, or pair them with other plants that flower at different times of year. Most agapanthus are evergreen, but there are some deciduous types.<\/p>\n Many varieties of dogwood, including cultivars of Cornus alba<\/em>, Cornus sanguinea <\/em>and Cornus sericea,<\/em> have beautifully colourful winter stems and work well in pots. They make an excellent backdrop for other winter perennials, and you can choose plants (such as the lavender, hebe and phormium shown here), which will take centre stage when the leaves grow on the cornus stems in spring, dulling its display.<\/p>\n Heuchera<\/a> is an evergreen foliage plant that comes in a range of vibrant colours. They’re perfect for using as a foil for other plants and make excellent long-lasting displays.<\/p>\n Compact phormiums<\/a>, such as \u2018Chocomint\u2019, \u2018Jester\u2019 and \u2018Platt\u2019s Black\u2019, make ideal low-maintenance outdoor potted plants, creating architectural structure all year round. They can be combined with grasses and low-growing flowering plants to create eye-catching displays beside entrances, on patios or along paths.<\/p>\n Scented-leaf pelargoniums<\/a> (sometimes referred to as \u2018scented-leaf geraniums\u2019) are ideal for pots in full sun beside a path or entrance where their fragrance can be enjoyed as you brush past the foliage. As tender perennials, pelargoniums can be left in pots all year round as long as they’re kept in a frost-free place over winter.<\/p>\n These attractive shrubs can be either hardy or tender perennials. Compact hardy fuchsias<\/a> are a sustainable choice for garden pots as they will flower every summer, whereas tender varieties are often treated as annuals. Trailing varieties, such as \u2018Patricia Hodge\u2019, look fantastic spilling over the edge of hanging baskets.<\/p>\n Blueberry plants are low-maintenance shrubs with white bell flowers in spring, followed by delicious summer fruits, and then glorious autumn colour. With a wide range of varieties to choose from, it’s possible to harvest blueberries<\/a> throughout the summer. They’re well suited to containers, but do need to be planted in peat-free ericaceous (acidic) compost.<\/p>\n More compact hydrangeas<\/a>, like Hydrangea macrophylla<\/em> ‘Miss Saori’ and ‘Early Blue’ (shown above), are perfect for large pots in a partially-shaded spot. If you buy a blue variety of Hydrangea macrophyllum<\/em> or Hydrangea serrata<\/em>, you’ll need to plant it in peat-free ericaceous compost to ensure the pH stays below 5.5, which will maintain the blue colouration. Prune hydrangeas<\/a> in spring.<\/p>\n Patio roses<\/a> are bred for smaller gardens and container growing. They’re easy to grow \u2013 they just need a prune in spring and repotting if necessary. Most compact rose varieties suitable for pots have a lifespan of around 5-7 years.<\/p>\n Some clematis<\/a> varieties with a more compact growth habit<\/a> are particularly suitable for large containers. They need good drainage and sturdy supports to avoid damage from windy conditions.<\/p>\n Azaleas<\/a> are deciduous or evergreen shrubs with vibrant flowers in a wide range of colours, usually in spring. They’re well suited for pots, especially in gardens with alkaline soil, where they’d struggle in the ground. Azalea plants in containers need to be grown in peat-free ericaceous compost and watered with rainwater. They grow best in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.<\/p>\n Ideal to bring colour and interest to areas in semi-shade, begonias<\/a> thrive in pots of peat-free multi-purpose compost. Although often grown as annuals, most are tender perennials that can be brought in over winter (for fibrous begonias) or stored as tubers in the same way as dahlias (for tuberous begonias).<\/p>\n With a vast range of varieties to choose from, dahlias<\/a> come in almost every shape, colour and size. Ideally suited for pots, more compact varieties can be combined with other late summer-flowering perennials grown in containers to create flamboyant displays in hot colours, or used singly as specimen plants.<\/p>\n Chilllies work well in containers and can be grown outside in the summer months. Plant them into peat-free, multi-purpose compost in a pot slightly larger than the rootball. Always let the compost dry out between waterings and feed weekly with a tomato fertiliser once flowers appear.<\/p>\n The best jasmine for pots is star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides.\u00a0<\/em>Make sure the container is large as climbing plants need a lot of room to grow. Plant in a peat-free, loam-based compost like John Innes No. 2. Grow it against a south- or west-facing wall where it’s protected from wind \u2013 in colder regions you may need to bring it indoors for winter.<\/p>\n In this short video, Gabrielle Shay demonstrates how to plant up a pot to ensure it looks good and the plants stay healthy.<\/p>\n View Green Video on the source website<\/a><\/p>\n View Green Video on the source website<\/a><\/p>\n In this short video, Gabrielle Shay shows how to water plants in pots to keep them healthy, plus she explains when and what to feed your plants with.<\/p>\n The best plants for pots all year round include those with hardy evergreen foliage like yucca<\/a>, English ivy,<\/a> variegated euonymus and heuchera, and long-flowering plants like perennial wallflowers<\/a>, Skimmia japonica<\/em><\/a> and hebes<\/a>. This is because they look better for longer. Evergreen plants should be paired with plants that flower at different times of year so there’s always a contrasting focal point.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pots and containers offer the gardener great versatility and are a fantastic way to experiment with planting and design. From short-term bedding displays to permanent features of small trees and topiary, planting in pots adds another dimension to the garden,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1183"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1183\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n\u00a0Pittosporum tenuifolium<\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"Pittosporum](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/04\/2048x1365-Plants-for-city-gardens-LI2421189-347acb2.jpg\" "\\"Pittosporum")
<\/p>\n\n
\nSkimmia japonica<\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"Skimmia](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/2048x1365-WisleyPlantPortraitsPDB30323-2184-d204264.jpg\" "\\"Skimmia")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Hosta<\/h3>\n
![\"Hosta](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/05\/2048x1365-Gardening-for-beginners-series-container-gardening-LI3130564-d63e9c8.jpg\" "\\"Hosta")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Fountain grass (Pennisetum advena<\/em> ‘Rubrum’)<\/h3>\n
![\"Container](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2019\/06\/2048-1365-erbe-pd-SummerContainersAritAnderson040820AritA0006-99c511d.jpg\" "\\"Pennisetum")
<\/p>\n\n
\nBuddleja<\/em> ‘Buzz’<\/h3>\n
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/06\/2048x1365-gg-buddleja-LI2541934-90c765a.jpg\" "\\"Red")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Hebe<\/h3>\n
![\"Hebe](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2019\/07\/2048x1365_Four-pots_for_pollinators_LI4097757-47eb2e5.jpg\" "\\"Hebe")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Agapanthus<\/h3>\n
![\"Agapanthus](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2019\/05\/2048-1365-agapanthus-midnight-dream-f42ad90.jpg\" "\\"Agapanthus")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Cornus<\/h3>\n
![\"Cornus,](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2019\/12\/2048x1365-Cornus-hebe-phormium-container-Frances_Tophill_Container_21_02_18_Container-January-c22--62d6b0f.jpg\" "\\"Cornus,")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Heuchera<\/h3>\n
![\"Heuchera](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/03\/2048x1365-GW-LIVE-2023Show-gardens-JIGWLive2023126-9278273.jpg\" "\\"Heuchera")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Phormium<\/h3>\n
![\"Phormium](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2021\/03\/2048x1365-Phormium-SEO-Bob_Purnell_JI_260219_Instant_Winter_Pots_040-bd4d176.jpg\" "\\"Phormium")
<\/p>\n\n
\nScented-leaf pelargonium<\/h3>\n
![\"Pelargonium](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI3554642-ee1b8e6.jpg\" "\\"Pelargonium")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Fuchsia<\/h3>\n
![\"Fuchsia](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2023\/11\/2048x1365HardyFuchsiaSEOLI2266525KevinSmith30082-6a39c02.jpg\" "\\"Fuchsia")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Blueberry<\/h3>\n
![\"Blueberries.](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-JI070714HamptonCourt255-fa65bae.jpg\" "\\"Blueberries.")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Hydrangea<\/h3>\n
![\"Hydrangea](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI3723840-be8846b.jpg\" "\\"Hydrangea")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Roses<\/h3>\n
![\"Rosa](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI4118394-02a2d2d.jpg\" "\\"Rosa")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Clematis<\/h3>\n
![\"Clematis](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI3099239-319265f.jpg\" "\\"Clematis")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Azalea<\/h3>\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI3538621-84359b1.jpg\" "\\"White")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Begonias<\/h3>\n
![\"Begonia](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-LI3146844-cde68b7.jpg\" "\\"Begonia")
<\/p>\n\n
\n\u00a0Dahlia<\/h3>\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2024\/01\/2048x1365-Plants-for-pots-SEO-GOTY-Competition-2018JI170818GOTYEdGreenall091-2ee33a5.jpg\" "\\"White")
<\/p>\n\n
\nChillies<\/h3>\n
![\"Chilli](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/02\/1c066c73-ca45-4d36-a035-2f7f5ea1d3fe-02d83e3.jpg\" "\\"Chilli")
<\/p>\n\n
\nJasmine<\/h3>\n
![\"Star](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2018\/12\/2048x1365-gg-Trachelospermum-Bennet-Smith-PDB_5_7_17_0372-75eb3f3.jpg\" "\\"Star")
<\/p>\n\n
\nHow to plant up a pot<\/h3>\n
How to feed and water plants in pots<\/h3>\n
\nBest plants for pots all year-round<\/h2>\n