Container plants to put in now

[lurchermummy]

Garden all looking a bit sad and bedraggled. Are there any container plants that would do me now through to Autumn to cheer up my front steps a bit?Thanks.

Pansies / violas. Your local garden centre is likely to have some in.

Dahlias.

Crocodmia.

At this time of year I'd probably just see what the garden centre has in stock which is in flower and has plenty of buds.

I've always been disappointed with winter pansies - they get bashed by winter rain and wind and don't make a great show.

Sarcococcra is an evergreen shrub with pungent tiny white flowers in winter.
I have a hellebore augustifolia which looks interesting in the winter, evergreen and more architectural than attractive but it is several years old.

I'd describe sarcococca as 'deliciously scented' rather than pungent, as befits its common name 'sweet box'. I've got one in a large pot which I move next to the door when it's flowering.

It’s a difficult time! The annuals are naturally winding down for autumn, I wouldn’t bother with any that are still on sale with the possible exception of pelargoniums in Four inch pots, they can overwinter and still flower inside.

some places sell dwarf Chrysanthemum which you might get a couple of months out of, though personally I’ve always found them a bit disappointing, same as the PP on pansies.

get the bulb catalogues out and start planning for Spring!

There are some lovely miniature dahlias around if you like those. I also love sedums and coleus. Coleus aren't hardy but they're very cheap and will last until maybe end of October depending on where you live.

You might find some hardy cyclamen bulbs just coming into flower. They are tiny, admittedly, but very pretty and fresh-looking, and the flowers are followed by attractive shiny leaves

A neighbour had one which I loved sniffing as I walked past, and then they had it cut down! I'd love to get one in my garden.
Currently flowering in my garden are my dahlias, my first time with them, Hypericum, Bluebeard (Caryopteris x Clandonensis), Blue Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) which is in a pot, Potentilla and buddleia. I have thymes in a hanging basket which are still flowering.

My autumn flowering ones are starting to come out now. I've got some spring flowering ones as well. Lovely little things.

Tesco had some lovely cyclepaths for £4 today.

Thanks all might have a mooch down the garden centre

Still flowering in my garden are buddleia, hydrangea, fuschia, mint, & some of my roses have got new buds too.

Echinacea - you can get some shorter varieties. Dahlias will be greatly reduced in the garden centre right now. Crysanthemums, some Leucanthemums and asters are blooming now.

Lidl have pansies coming in next week. 10 for £1.89.

Ooh. I've never bought a cyclepath. Does it come with bike or do you have to grow that separately?

Heucheras can bring some unusual colour and texture to Autumn and Winter planters
www.plantagogo.com/

You might find some autumnal bulbs in flower in the garden centres - you might be lucky with dahlias, although mine haven't flowered this year.

Good time though to plan for all year colour next year though. Its nearly time to plant bulbs for spring for a start and if you plan ahead you can have autum and winter covered next year.

@Leafy3

"Tesco had some lovely cyclepaths for £4 today.

Ooh. I've never bought a cyclepath. Does it come with bike or do you have to grow that separately?"

LOL !

I wish I could blame autocorrupt, it's what I've always called them.

So glad that you posted this @lurchermummy.

For various reasons, too many to go into, our garden is looking a bit shabby too.

I may go to the garden centre over the weekend and do a couple of pots and then take the advice from the Spring Bulb thread and start planning for next year