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Lavender and thyme herbs emit a delicate fragrance. Position this hanging basket near the patio or a window so you can catch its scent on the wind. Choose a dwarf lavender, such as the compact 'Bella Series', as the centrepiece and surround

In this easy-to-make display, we've combined aloe with a contemporary planter to produce a simple but striking result. Aloe is a succulent plant which, although frost tender, will survive in a sheltered spot in summer. May - AugustMay - October30 minutesAloe variegata x4Decorativ...

Acers don't like to be baked by the sun so this pot is perfect for a sheltered spot. This particular Japanese maple has beautiful filigree leaves but it's just one of a fantastic range of leaf colours and shapes that are available. The colourful leaves of the low-growing bugle wi...

Phormiums survive well in most conditions and there are some wonderful dwarf varieties that are perfect for growing in pots. For a cheaper, but equally colourful alternative to phormiums, you could use cordylines. By the end of summer the fragrant lime-green tobacco plants will b...

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...

these plants at your local nursery and it's possible to plant the skimmias and stipas in the garden when they outgrow the display.Put safety first: be sure to buy lights that are safe for outdoor use, which usually means they'll have a transformer between

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

different foliage textures and shapes on long trailing stems, with highlights of large double begonia flowers and tiny white stars of sutera. The basket can be hung from a tree or garden structure away from the house, where the calmer colours and blend

In the heat of summer, this showy pot will bring a taste of the tropics to your garden. The huge, red-tinged banana leaves flounce above a frothy skirt of blue-grey parrot's beak and honey bush, and fiery begonias. April - JuneJune - September30

While many container displays are looking past their best by August, this late-summer display will brighten up a corner of the patio right through autumn. The fiery colours of Crocosmia 'Irish Dawn' and Celosia caracas contrast beautifully