Pots for spring

[tootrueblue]

I'm new to gardening and have a few failed attempts in the last couple of years. I've decided I want lots of colour in the garden this year and only in pots (I don't want any borders as it's already a small garden).

What would you suggest I look for when spring comes?

I have a hydrangea which I managed to keep alive last summer so hopefully that will flower again. The failures were buxus balls - I think slugs got to them and then buxus blight 😖

Dahlias (the smaller varieties work better in pots than the huge ones)
Cosmos (v easy to grow from seed)
Sweet Peas (can be sown now, will need some kind of support eg obelisk in the pot or hazel poles)
Underplant with trailing annuals like lobelia or calibrachoa (cheap to buy as plugs)

In the autumn switch these out for spring bulbs in the same pots.

Or if you want to have perennials for a lower maintenance scheme, try:

Hemerocallis (day lilies)
Agapanthus
Gaura
Roses (look at David Austin website for ones suited to large pots)
Blueberries (lovely blossom then the fruit, good autumn colour - need ericaceous compost)
Underplant with erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican fleabane)

Meant to add, all of these would work best in a sunny position. If your pots will be in semi shade then you'd need to choose from a different plant palette.

Thanks @Turkeyhen

Can I buy the dahlias, cosmos and sweet pea as plants later in the spring? Is there a benefit to planting bulbs rather than plants (other than planting plants after frost has gone)?

What should I use to deter the slugs?

You can buy potted dahlias in late spring, but it’s cheaper to buy tubers earlier and start them off in a pot if you have windowsill space. Cosmos are sold as plugs but honestly they are so easy to grow from seed - start in small pots early April. Most garden centres will have plugs or potted plants around May time or you can buy online from Sarah Raven or similar.

Re bulbs, what I meant was when your summer flowers have finished that’s the time you plant tulips so you can empty out your pots and plant tulips for spring flowers so you get two loads of flower from one pot 😊

Slugs do love dahlias - you can try topping your pots with sharp grit or something they don’t like crawling over? I’m not sure if this works though tbh

Thanks so much for your advice 🙂