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Dogwood, fern and skimmia pot display

in : Pots & containers: Autumn & winter

You will need

  • 1 dogwood, Cornus 'Winter Beauty'
  • 1 fern
  • 1 skimmia, Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana
  • Large, tall pot
  • Compost

Pots & container categories

Overview

The orange-coloured stems of the dogwood 'Winter Beauty' add a fiery touch to an autumn garden, and they'll continue to steal the show until spring. An evergreen fern acts as a lush green cushion beneath it throughout winter, while the bright red fruits of the Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana add a splash of colour that will last for months.
Plant it: September - November
At its best: November - February
Takes just: 20 minutes

How to do it:

1Place crocks in the base of the pot and half fill with compost. Place the dogwood centrally in the pot and arrange the fern and the skimmia around its base. Position the pot in a shady, damp spot, where the fern will thrive. Add more compost around the plants and firm in.

Adam's tip

All of these plants like damp conditions, so water the pot regularly.
The fern will appreciate a thick mulch of garden compost or well-rotted leaves to help retain moisture in the soil.
Use a lime-free compost or water regularly with ericaceous plant food to prevent the skimmia's leaves turning from deep green to pale yellow.

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