Pittosporum, skimmia, carex pot display

You will need

Pittosporum tenuifolium x1
Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana x1
Ivy Hedera helix 'Glacier' x1
Carex buchananii x1
Tulipa 'Red riding Hood' x 10
Square planter, roughly 45cm
Round cup bird feeders
Multi-purpose compost, slow-release fertiliser
Crocks or polystyrene pieces

Pots & container categories

Overview

The evergreen foliage of the skimmia, pittosporum and ivy set against a backdrop of carex, provide year-round interest in this elegant container display. Red tulips add a splash of colour in spring, while skimmia berries provide autumn and winter interest.

The addition of the bird feeders adds wildlife value to the pot display. Choose bright red feeders, to match the colour of the tulips and skimmia berries, or opt for a different, contrasting colour. Keep feeders topped up in winter to ensure birds don't waste energy travelling to them.

Plant it: autumn

At its best: all year round

Takes just: 20 minutes

How to do it:

Adding polystyrene pieces to the base of the pot

1Place the pot in its final sheltered position then add polystyrene or crocks to improve drainage.

Adding slow-release fertiliser to the compost

2Fill the pot two-thirds full with multi-purpose compost and mix in some slow-release fertiliser granules.

3Gently tease out the pittosporum's roots and place the rootball in the centre of the container, ensuring the base of the stem sits just below the top of the pot. Add more compost around the roots.

Planting the carex, skimmia and hedera plants

4Tease out the roots of the carex, skimmia and ivy, and plant them around the pittosporum. Carefully fill any air pockets around the plants with compost and firm down well.

5Plant tulip bulbs in the loose compost between plants, ensuring you have an even spread. Aim to plant them 10cm deep and just a few centimetres apart.

6Push three bird feeders firmly into the compost around the base of the pittosporum and fill them with sunflower seed. Water in the new plants thoroughly.