Container plants design for dummies

[Skulldrudgery]

I am an absolute novice at gardening and have moved to a place with fairly big garden that’s quite a blank canvas. It’s a huge task and I just want to start with some planters / containers this year.
My mum used to come and make them up for me but she passed away last year, I’d like some pretty planters to look at and think of her.
I’ve looked at Border in a roll and think that sort of idea would be great but I can’t find the same idea for planters.
Ideally need a service where I can order the plants ready selected with a guide as to where to plant them - but I don’t think it exists!
Could any kind green fingered mumsnetters help me choose some plants and instruct me how to plant them, please?
I have 4 large plant pots (2 of which are water logged so will drill some drainage holes), 2 large rectangle planters, 2 medium tall stone planters , and 2 small rectangle planters that hang on the fence .

Sorry for your loss op

if you have a fairly large garden that you intend to plant in maybe next year, I would buy perennial plants to go into your pots this year or young flowering shrubs. That way you can plant out in your garden next year as they will come back. I quite like one plant in a container rather than a mish mash but the great thing about gardening is that everyone is completely different and equally as beautiful.
if you are on a budget you could sprinkle a few cosmos seeds in pots, they are classed as annuals but you can save seeds for next year. Very easy to grow and long lasting. It depends what you want though. Would you consider strawberry plants in the hanging planters?

Take a visit to local garden centre, look at the planted tubs they have there and buy the plants separately, staff are more than happy to help. You need to decide if you want shrubs that flower or stay evergreen. It’s too early for summer flowers. To be fair the plants in border row could probably be put in pots. Yes, you need good drainage in pots and also some good new compost. I mainly did my own pots, bedding and baskets for years, but if you can afford to buy ready potted plants in containers, these are by far better than I can do. Also Supermarkets have lots of plants in cheap planter pots, you could buy these and transfer into your own pots.

Great ideas thank you.
So I need to empty the old compost and replace (makes sense but hadn’t realised that!)
Copying the garden centre containers is a good idea
When should I plant for summer flowers?
I was thinking of a small shrub/ evergreen for ‘structure’ plus some trailing plants plus some colour - that’s my best description of how mum used to do them!
Forgot! Also have 3 hanging baskets to do! Limited budget hence wanting to plant up myself rather than buy ready made, plus I have all the planters. Although buying ones in cheap pots and re planting I hadn’t thought of…

I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago, with the huge garden and not much of a clue! I really recommend watching to see what comes up, and the other thing that worked for me was growing from seed. Cosmos are really easy, marigolds if you like them, phlox, snapdragons and sweet peas… you can pick that up for a tenner at B&M then if any of your container plants don’t work, slot them in later.

For containers, a lot of people recommend a thriller, filler, and spiller technique, and that basically means something tall/eye catching, possibly a shrub or perennial as another poster said, something that fills the middle space and has lots of flowers but not too big, and something to ‘spill’ over the sides. I’m obsessed with edibles so you could even use strawberries or container tomatoes, doesn’t have to be just flowers.

lastly, just pick things you like the look of and you can’t go wrong. The joy of it is that it’s yours… there are no right or wrong answers. If you want a guide ‘cos it will build your confidence try the gardeners world website and you should find some clips of how to plant up containers with specific plants.

Bet your mum would be dead chuffed to see you giving it a go.

Ooh and try the Sarah Raven website as they do ‘collections’ of plants that look good together. Not cheap but might give you some ideas of what you like the look of.