Whether you’re creating new displays or refreshing existing containers, pots and baskets offer a truly instant solution to injecting colour and interest into our gardens during Autumn and Winter, wherever we may happen to need it.

Of course one of the benefits of using containers is that they are easy to move around too, which means that gaps can quickly be filled and new looks created with just a few minutes work.

There can be no doubt that are some truly lovely Autumn and Winter bedding plants available but don’t limit yourself to these, because by extending and varying the plant combinations you use, you’ll give your containers extra longevity, which means that you’ll get to enjoy your lovely new displays for longer too!

Here are our plant ideas which we know will work in any combination to get you started…

Sedum

Late-flowering sedums are one of the easiest and most beautiful varieties to grow in containers and, as they’re not often used like this, they’re a great choice to make your displays unique.

Available in lots of different colours, sizes and textures, they’re also very hardy, which means they’ll tolerate pretty much any conditions the weather can throw at them!

Heather

Heather has developed a little niche for planting in containers in recent years, where it performs well. They’re evergreen, offer great variation in foliage and flower colour and, if you choose your varieties carefully, it’s possible to have heavenly heather blooms throughout all seasons  – although for Autumn and Winter they are hard to beat.

Structural Plants

With their wonderful flowing movement, spectacular seed heads and great texture, grasses are ideal for adding height and softening the look of pots and containers.

Other structural plants such as strappy-leaved dwarf phormiums are also great for adding height and extra textural interest.

Evergreens & Foliage Plants

Evergreens and other hardy foliage plants are a great choice for containers because, not only are they lovely in their own right, they also make an excellent backdrop against which your other choices can shine.  Those with colourful  foliage such as euonymous and variegated ivy are particularly useful, and don’t forget the wonderful foliage colours available in varieties of hardy heuchera.

If you’re after berry interest too, then why not use a smaller skimmia.

Spring-flowering Bulbs

The cheery sight of Spring-flowering bulbs emerging in late Winter is a sight we simply never tire of, which makes them an excellent choice to add to a pot or container as they’ll appear just when you think your displays have nothing new to give.

Cool dwarf iris, elegant crocus, tulips and cheery narcissi are our favourites.

And finally… we couldn’t not mention pansies and violas… these undoubted stalwarts of the Autumn and Winter garden are reliable flowerers, even during the darkest Winter days plus they tolerate our cold, wet and windy weather too – so they definitely shouldn’t be excluded, we just think that changing their container ‘neighbours’ gives them – and the whole container – a completely different look.

Now you know how easy it is to put together exciting plant combinations with long-lasting interest, hopefully we’ve inspired lots of creative ideas for your own dazzling new displays!

So come and visit us in-store to check out our range of pots and baskets, to pick up the plants you’ll need and any other supplies – and of course for further inspiration if you need it!