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The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy (Viola) are the best bet for winter and spring containers as they're rarely without blooms, even when other plants are shivering in the cold. The flowers look stunning set off against the golden foliage of the thyme and ivy. September...

Purple and yellow always work well together, and the combination is particularly striking in this pairing of cowslip and anemone. We've used a grey Moroccan trough, but a wooden or terracotta planter would look just a good.February - MarchMarch - April30 minutesPrimula veris x5Wo...

Thrift is found growing wild on sea cliffs and mountain sides. It is a tough little plant with short, tufty foliage. In this planting combination its bright pink, long-stemmed flowers provide a focal point from late-spring to summer. The low-growing alpine phloxes are covered in ...

Each blue or magenta flower of Ipomoea, the morning glory, lasts just one day, but it blooms reliably throughout the summer. The dense mat of heart-shaped leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the cheery flowers.How to grow annual climbers from seedsow in February, pot on in Apri...

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

Dahlias come in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes, and the pom-pom types, with their rows of incurved petals, resemble old-fashioned bathing caps. Dahlia 'Franz Kafka' lends itself - ironically, given its name - to a relaxed cottage-garden style, floating like balloons a...

This pebble cage arrangement is a stylish twist on the alpines' traditional environment, and wouldn't look out of place in any modern garden or even as a contemporary table decoration. The dwarf size of Dianthus 'Fusilier' perfectly suits the proportions of this container, and ri...

A shady garden might seem like a challenge, but in reality there's a huge range of plants suitable for growing in dark places. This container display is made using a boldselection of plants, combining different leaf forms, colours and textures. The Nandina domestica makes an an e...

Don't despair if you only have a tiny garden. Your dream of having a pond is easier to realise than you think. Our mini container pond is big enough to host your favourite aquatic plants and in no time, you'll be able to enjoy watching the wildlife it will attract. April - JuneJu...

If you yearn for the smell of the sea and the sight of grasses waving in the dunes, try planting up this coastal-themed container. From late-spring, the thrift brings splashes of colour with profuse pink, white or purple flowers, while the lilac scabious echoes its purple accents...