Container Gardening Ideas For Great Plant Pots All Year Round

Container gardening is popular with many people. There's something really satisfying about nurturing a handful of plants in a small space, and watching as they develop.

And while they might bloom in the summer, many people neglect their planters in the colder months. However, they can be used all year round to keep your garden looking great.

In this guide, we'll show you some great ways to get the most from your garden planters and containers.

What is container gardening?

First of all, what actually is container gardening?

Put simply, it's when you grow plants and flowers in containers, planters or plant pots, rather than in the ground or a flower bed.

But why choose containers over traditional flower beds? Well, there are a number of reasons why container gardening is such a great idea:

• Your garden might be small, with no space for planting flowers or bulbs in the ground.
• You might not have a garden (but you can always have a planter on a balcony!)
• Containers and planters remove many of the problems associated with flower beds (more on that later).
• The ground soil or climate might not be suitable for your chosen plant.
• Planters can be moved and placed anywhere you desire in your garden.

As mentioned briefly above, ground soil may sometimes be damaging to your plants. Growing in planters means that you have the ability to control what soil is used. You can also control how much heat, light and moisture the plants are exposed to – something you can't affect when your plants are in flower beds.

This is important for a couple of reasons:

Firstly, it means you're less likely to waste money on plants that don't grow in unsuitable conditions. And secondly, there is much less chance of soil-based diseases ruining your crops in a container than when they are in the ground.

Now that you know the benefits of container gardening, it's time to look at some ways to keep your planters in bloom all year round.

What are the best container plants and flowers?

Everyone has their own favourites when it comes to gardens. Whether you love bright colours, pleasant floral aromas or intriguing shapes, there's a flower to suit your taste.

The thing is, there are so many to choose from, how can you decide what to plant? We've done some of the work for you, with some suggestions for your flower pots and planters.

What you might not realise is that planters and containers aren't just for use in the spring and summer. You can actually keep them filled with delightful plants all year – even in the winter!

Let's take a look at some of the best container plants to use throughout the year.

Summer plants and flowers

Summer is a season filled with fun and happiness, so let your planters show that. Fill them with colourful flowers and create a garden with a sun-kissed feel.

Serenity Bronze is a plant which we think looks great in summer containers. Its beautiful orange-bronze petals contrast perfectly with its purple centre. Zahara Fire is another great option, with its flame-red petals perfectly encapsulating the warmth of summer. For a more subtle look, add some Crested Merlot with its stylish purple petals.

In shaded areas, petunias, fuchsias and busy lizzies are all colourful and grow well, even when they don't get much sun.

Winter bulbs and plants

Just because the trees look bare in the winter, it doesn't mean your garden has to. There are some fantastic plants that thrive in colder conditions, meaning you can make use of your containers and planters even during the winter.

Hardy plants such as dogwood, and evergreens like fern and ivy bring some much needed greenery to a winter garden. Another good idea is to use ornamental grasses like Carex, which provide height and depth to the container.

Some winter plants such as pansy, viola and primula can be used to bring occasional flashes of colour. These will bloom during milder spells of the winter.

You can also plant some bulbs such as iris or tulips around November time, and these will burst to life in the spring. This is the perfect way to easily ensure your containers make the transition from winter to summer whilst always looking inviting.

Vegetable garden

Aside from ornamental flowers and plants, containers can be used to grow vegetables and herbs. Everyone loves home-grown produce, and if you get it right, you can end up saving yourself a lot of money.

In terms of veg, there are plenty of things you can grow in a container. Broad beans, runner beans, peas, carrots, radishes, onions and beetroot are all popular. You can also grow lettuce, aubergine, courgette, tomatoes and potatoes in your planter.

Fresh herbs are a great addition to any home-made meal, and what better way to do it than with your own grown produce? Popular herbs for growing in containers include parsley, basil and coriander.

Mix it up

Whatever you choose to grow in your garden containers, why not keep a sense of continuity by mixing up your displays?

Keep your planters green all year round with some core evergreens, and then add seasonal flowers and plants to keep it interesting throughout.

Looking after your containers

For all their advantages, garden containers do require some TLC along the way. Remember to keep the planters well watered, especially in the summer. After all, the roots don't have as much space as they would in a ground flower bed.

That's why it's important to keep the soil moist and nutrient-rich, to give your plants the best chance of growing and surviving. At the same time, you should ensure that your soil is not too compact, as it needs to drain away any excess moisture. This is helpful when it rains, preventing the plants from drowning.

Another way to improve the drainage of your planters is to ensure the soil isn't too tightly packed or compressed. Keeping it loose will allow moisture to trickle through the planter.

Will you be adding some stylish garden containers to your garden this year? Follow our tips to keep them looking great no matter what the season!