Search - Articles

Bring life to a shady corner with this mix of shade-loving favourites. There are hundreds of fabulous hostas to choose from. At the back of the planter the green fern adds strong textural contrast. If you can't live without flowers, mix in some violets; they'll bloom all spring i...

This rustic container filled with an orange pelargonium and a ruby red begonia is guaranteed to brighten up the gloomiest corner in your garden. Take care to keep the begonia out of the sun, or it will scorch. March - April June - September20 minutes1 ruby red begonia, we used B....

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...

, despite their delicate appearance.Perfect for placing on a patio, or by the back door, this easy-to-create container display is just the thing to lift your spirits. You could use the plants we've recommended, or make your own selection.Marchspring30

, spicy scent that will perfume your patio on a warm day. October - November or February - MarchMarch - May30 minutes to plant up the containerAzalea plantCampanula plants x3 25cm diameter potCrocksEricaceous compost suitable for acid-loving plantsPut a

Thanks to their cheery flowers, which come in a wide range of colours, primulas are one of our most popular spring bedding plants. Once this display is over, plant everything out into a damp spot in the garden.September - early NovemberFebruary - April20 minutes3 drumstick primul...

This rich mix of colourful, spiky and textured foliage and luxurious, velvety flowers provides a wonderful display all spring long. Position the box within arm's reach and you won't be able to resist running your hand through the grass! September - OctoberMarch20 minutesHair gras...

Take your house plants plants outside this summer and use them to create dramatic patio containers. Here, we've teamed purple heart with silvery helichrysum and the trailing silver-grey foliage with the bright-orange flowers of parrot's beak

The cup and saucer vine, Cobaea scandens, grows 3m or more in a single summer. It is wonderfully dynamic, with winged buds and flowers that are cream when they first open, turning to dusky purple bells as they mature. The curling, tongue-like stamens and claret-tinted stems are c...

The bright, cheery colours of Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata, formerly known as Mina lobata) and Canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum, combine to make a stunning summer pot display.Canary creeper is an easy-to-grow relative of nasturtium. You might have to trim its fig-like leaves...