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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 with the evergreen foliage of libertia.a...

you can use iris bulbs; if you wait until spring, simply buy pots of iris. October - November or January - FebruaryFebruary30 minutesIris 'Pauline' bulbs x12 or iris plants x3Hart's tongue fern, e.g. Asplenium scolopendrium 'Angustifolia' x3Bird's foot

February - April20 minutesDaffodil bulbs x10Celandine, Ranunculus ficariaCorydalis, Corydalis flexuosa x225cm potJohn Innes No. 2 compostCrocksPlace a layer of broken terracotta pot crocks into the bottom of your container. Fill the pot with compost to around 20cm

flowerheads once the petals have fallen, trimming them back to just above the foliage.AdamWhen tidying up lilies, leave as much main stem and as many leaves as possible as these will help the bulb build up its food reserves for next year.More advice on lilies

Carol Klein offers advice on getting the best results from moisture-loving plants cowslip and fritillary.springMore advice on growing primulasTreating primula leaf spotHow to rejuvenate primrosesBrowse primula varieties

Alliums are spectacular plants and it's worth saving a few seeds to sow in the spring to grow some more for the garden. The seeds will germinate quickly and reach flowering size in a couple of years.SecateursPaper envelopesSeptember - October20 minutesCut the seedheads from your ...

Watch Carol Klein's video guide to planting snowdrops 'in the green'. Carol also explains how to boost flowering of existing clumps by lifting and dividing.early springMore on growing snowdropsPractical project on lifting and dividing snowdropsFeature on snowdrops and where to se...

Agapanthus are easy to grow from seed and you may get flowering plants in as little as two years.Collect seed when the seedhead is becoming brown and the capsules are starting to burst. If the weather is turning cold you can collect seed prematurely and store the whole seedhead i...

not to disturb the bulbs and root system too much.Fill any gaps with more compost, ensuring all the plants are firmly bedded in. Water the pot well and move it to its final position.AdamWe used the large leaved snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, but any other variety

There are many plants in flower in February that can be used to create an instant spring pot display. Daffodils and primulas go together beautifully, and work well with the contrasting foliage of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and a brightly coloured pot. If you buy the plan...