Petunia, verbena and nemesia display

Place a large piece of plastic on top of the liner – an old compost sack is ideal – and cut it to fit just inside the basket. Add a few drainage holes to ensure the basket doesn't become waterlogged.

Half fill your basket with compost and add water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertiliser. (Refer to the packet instructions for details of how much to add.)

Cut seven evenly spaced holes through the liner and plastic, just above the level of the compost. Then, carefully feed a plant, root ball first, through each hole. Choose plants randomly. Add more compost, water-retaining crystals and fertiliser to the basket.

Cut off the end of a plastic bottle and bury it, top-end down, in the centre of the compost. This creates a funnel, so when watering the basket later in the year, you can direct water straight to the plants' roots.

Place the remaining plants evenly around the top of the basket, in random order. Place one in the centre (near the bottle) and tilt the rest of the plants over the side. Fill in with compost and firm down.

Cut the liner to size so it's slightly bigger than the basket. Water the basket well and keep it protected until all risk of frost has passed.

Water the basket every day and never let the compost dry out. After six weeks, use a diluted tomato feed once a week, to ensure there are sufficient nutrients available to sustain flowering. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage further flowering.