a Symphony of Seasons: Three planter combinations to try this Autumn
Container planting offers a chance to express your creativity, these compact gardens allow you to blend an array of colours, textures, and scents. Yet, achieving year-round interest can be challenging. Don't worry; we've got your back! At Bath Garden Design, our Director, Kat, has simplified the process.
This autumn, we invite you on a journey of horticultural creativity with easy-to-follow steps for captivating container displays. Whether you prefer the vintage appeal of zinc dolly tubs, the timeless charm of terracotta tabletop arrangements, or the grandeur of large planters, our carefully curated options suit your style. These ideas will turn your outdoor space into a year-round source of beauty and inspiration, ensuring it remains stunning well into spring. So, let's dive in and make your container gardening experience a breeze!
The Trio
Craft a captivating container garden with diverse sizes and heights, ideal for charming courtyards or entrances.
You will need:
The Container: 3 x round zinc dolly tubs or round planters of your choice.
The Bulbs: Iris reticulate ‘Harmony’ x 25, Muscari ‘Baby’s Breath’ x 25, Narcissus ‘Thalia’ & ‘Minnow’ x 25,
The Focal Point: Skimma japonica ‘Kew Green’ x 1 - 2 Litre Pot
Ground cover: Carex Testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ x 3, Fern - Blechnum spicant x 3, 9cm pots.
Trailing: Hedera helix x 3 (if visible from all sides make it 4)
Instructions:
Kickstart your container planting with a "Lasagne planting" technique. Arrange in three clusters of five to seven bulbs for Iris reticulata and Muscari, placing them along the planter's side edges. For tulips and Narcissus, plant them individually, ensuring they are layered at a depth of two to three times their size.
Introduce a striking central element with Skimmia japonica ‘Kew Green.’ This will provide height and an eye-catching focal point.
Create a lush, layered ground cover by combining three Carex Testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ with three evergreen 9cm ferns such as Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris erythorosa, Polystichum setiferum, or the unique holly fern, Cyrtomium falcatum.
Add three trailing ivy (Hedera helix) plants to cascade gracefully over the sides of the planter. Adjust the number to four if the planter is visible from all sides or three if it is against a wall on one side.
Mix it up!
You could mix up the planting in the other pots by using shrubs for central height such as Sarcococca hookerinia or a Daphne odora, which would also provide wonderful winter scent. Then use ground cover planting such as Cineraria, Cyclamen, Heuchera, and for a slightly quirky feel, ornamental cabbage. Ophiopogan grasses would work well here to spill over the edges of the planter. Apply the same planting principals for the ground cover as above. If the pot is larger, you may want to increase the variety of ground cover but stick to three of each plant variety. If you have a particularly small planter, go for one of each variety of ground cover.
The Tabletop Display
Keep it simple with a shallow terracotta dish for a beautiful table top display.
Image credit: www.waitrosegarden.com,
www.crocus.co.uk, www.wonderopolis.org
You will need:
The Container: - 1 x Shallow aged terracotta dish, around 40cm (D) x 15cm (H)
The Bulbs: Galanthus, (Doubles would be extra special here) x 30, white Hyacinth bulbs x 3
Around the Edge: Helleborus niger x 5 or 6, depending on size
In the Middle: Moss (and candles for a special touch).
Instructions:
To dress a garden table elegantly during those winter months, use a shallow aged terracotta dish, say 40cm d by 15cm ht
Underplant with Galanthus, (Doubles would be extra special here), and three centrally placed white Hyacinth bulbs, to the appropriate depth
Plant a ring of Helleborus niger around the edge, (Roughly five to six plants depending on size) and fill the central circle with moss so that the bulbs can emerge through this. You could even add candles to this for a festive winter table setting.
The Large Planter
Consider these choices for a more permanent planting option. Pick and choose to suit your garden.
You will need:
The Container: For planters exceeding 80cm diameter.
Shrubs: Your options include: Camellia japonica ‘Brushfield Yellow’ (Remembering the need for using an ericaceous growing medium), Osmanthus x burkwoodii, (Domed and shaped to expose the multi-stemmed form), Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, (For ‘corkscrew’ branches) or perhaps a Pinus mugo ‘Mop’, (For an oriental vibe.)
Instructions:
Choose a large container with adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Ensure it's at least 2-3 times larger than the shrub's root ball to allow for proper growth.
Position the shrub in the centre of the container, ensuring it's at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Surround it with the ornamental grasses, spacing them evenly around the shrub. Leave some space between each plant to accommodate growth.
Use a well-draining peat-free potting mix suitable for both the shrub and grasses. Water thoroughly after planting, and maintain consistent moisture levels. Apply a slow-release fertiliser according to package instructions. Provide adequate sunlight based on the specific requirements of your shrub and grass varieties.