Summer pots - help please!

[Illbefinejustbloodyfine]

Can anyone please please tell me what to plant? I have several pots that I'd like to plant up for my patio area. Metal (old bucket/basin types) terracotta, plastic. None more than 10-12 inches across. I have around 8 of them.

I'd be so grateful if someone could suggest " plant this in the middle, these round the edge" as opposed to "go to the garden centre"

Thank you!

Firstly unless wait until frosts have passed before you plant up anything tender. You could try mixing some gel with the compost to help with water retention but you will need to water daily in hot spells. In the middle of your pots you could plant geraniums, and surround with trailing lobelia. I like the white trailing, but they are most commonly blue. Don't forget to get some foliage plants as they will set the flowers off, maybe ivy or silver leaf plants with white flowers. Begonias go on forever and make a good show and require no dead heading. Everything else will last longer if you dead head daily. Feed regularly after 6 weeks or add a long lasting fertiliser when you plant up for more colour. Some oregano has nice flowers and being a herb like the heat. Oh, and pack in the plants for a good show.