Containers packed with flowers are great way to brighten up even the smallest patio. They are a top choice with renters, who can simply pack up their garden and take it with them when they move on, and they allow gardeners to create seasonal displays that can be changed throughout the year. Almost every plant, with just a few exceptions, can be grown in pots, window boxes or raised beds but it can take a bit of know-how to keep them looking good and in peak health.

So if you want your containers to look stunning, here’s how it is done.

Scottish Gardener:

SIZE MATTERS
When it comes to growing plants in pots, bigger containers are definitely better. The extra moisture and nutrients will give plants a boost and there’s less chance of them drying out. Grouping smaller containers together also helps to improve the health of individual plants, so don’t be tempted to dot small pots around the garden but instead arrange them in clusters where they will develop their own microclimates.

SOIL SENSE
Any decent peat-free compost will be suitable for summer bedding plants, but if you are planting shrubs, trees or perennials that will remain in their pots permanently, then a soil-based compost is a better alternative. Soil-based composts dry out less readily and their weight helps to prevent containers from blowing over.

DRAINAGE IS KEY
If containers get clogged, then plants will suffer. Prevent this happening by ensuring that there are plenty of drainage holes and placing a layer of polystyrene or broken terracotta in the bottom of the container. Silver-leafed plants, such as lavender, need very sharp drainage so plant these in a mixture of compost and horticultural grit.

COMPOST CHOICES
Peat-free is best but it can be hard to re-wet if it dries out. When that happens add a drop of washing-up liquid to the watering can and this will help with absorption. Fresh compost will feed plants for five or six weeks, but after that regular foliar feeds will be needed to keep plants healthy.

Scottish Gardener:

CHOOSE CONTENTS CAREFULLY
When filling a mixed container, choose plants that have the same cultivation requirements, whether that’s hot and sunny or semi-shade. You can ring the changes around permanent planting by squeezing in some seasonal flowers around the edges.

DEADHEAD REGULARLY
Removing old flower heads doesn’t only make your display look tidier, but it helps to stimulate the production of new flowers. Annuals, such as sweet peas, stop flowering once they set seed but by removing old flower heads you prevent this from happening.

WATER FREQUENTLY
Most containers need watering at least once a day during summer, more if they are from terracotta, which is porous. Even heavy rain can bounce off leaves without reaching the soil, so check moisture levels even during spells of wet weather.

REVIVE PERMANENT PLANTING
Plants that have been in pots for a long time can run out of steam. When this happens, tip them out of the pot, prune off some of the roots to encourage new feeder roots to grow, and repot using fresh compost. When plants become too large for this treatment, scrape away then replace the top 5cm if compost. Feed and water well.