Talk to me about pots please. I need ideas

[HeWhoWouldAValiantBe]

I have pots dotted around in various places where they are in view all year round (opposite the kitchen window for example so I can see them when I’m doing the dishes). But they often look a bit barren or a bit past their best for several weeks a year. I can’t work out if this is due to my planting or whether, rather than just having one pot, I should have a series of pots and move them into position when they are ready.
For example, I have had some petunias in one which, for all of their council park vibes, have always cheered me up whenever I see them. They died a death whilst we were on holiday so those pots are now empty. What would you plant in there now, ideally to see me through the autumn and into the winter. And would you plant bulbs under them to come through in the spring? Or should I plant a separate pot with bulbs and move that into position in the spring? And what about dahlias? I had what was essentially an empty pot for weeks whilst they sprouted and, if they’re like last year, they’ll carry on until mid-November by which point it was too late to plant spring bulbs in their place.

Thank you!

The professionals either plant in 3's ( a thriller, a filler and a spiller) or plant in layers so something is always coming through.

It could also be the compost. It often becomes a bit dry and dusty if you only use the stuff for baskets. A bit of soil, some grit and fertilizer will help.

My best posts are all trees and shrubs
Anything flowery goes in the ground because flowers in pots need effort.

Sorry just read your thread properly!

I'm doing my bulbs in pots in the next few weeks. I can never remember which is the proper order (some like deeper) but will have crocuses and daffodils. I had lots of luck with irises too.
I will chuck any old thing flowering on top for Autumn because I always forget about frosts and kill them regardless.
Wallflowers can go out now for next year. Mine did well in pots before I stuck them in the border.

Another thing you can do is have things planted in slightly smaller cheap pots that then can be slotted into nicer looking pots and rotated. I do this with bulbs so that when my lasagne bulbs are finished I can take the cheap pots out, put the bulbs somewhere quiet to recuperate and slot in a pot of early summer/ long term summer stuff.

Polystyrene packing stuff is your friend here, put in the base of the nicer pot to adjust the height of smaller pots! This is also a good way to carry on using good pots that have got a bit broken, just turn the broken bit to the back and no one knows.

I have also got some bigger stuff permanently in pots, like a couple of standard bays and olives, they look good in a group and can be arranged to draw the eye away from less exciting content.Having good evergreen foliage plants like variegated ivy , fatsia or cordalines and hardy flaxes are worth the investment too as they bulk up displays.

I'm thinking about mine. I'll plant one with cyclamen and ferns. Bulbs - I always layer some, tulips deepest daffs, followed by crocus. I'll top with viola, usually purple and perhaps white. I'll possibly have some with spectacular tulips, pinks, purples etc. Usually with viola to get through the winter. Then start with the summer bedding. It's almost impossible to get all the pots looking good 52 weeks a year. I've got dozens of pots and something is always waxing or waning.

This is really helpful. I can’t believe it hasn’t occurred to me that you could slot plastic pots in and just change those over. I also like the idea of thriller, filler and spiller.
This has really given me something to think about so I’m off to do some planning.

I’m about to move my summer ones out and put winter stuff in. I also do violas and pansies in autumn/winter and I was going to add some sedums this year as I saw they were on special and they look quite pretty.

for next year, geraniums are pretty good and flower for quite a long time - I also had cyclamen and hyacinths but the bloody slugs ate most of those!

I definitely rotate my pots so the display looks better. I think this would work for you if they’re opposite the kitchen window. I usually rotate mine outside the front door and in the patio where we sit.

Right now I’m planning on growing some chrysanthemums for a bit of colour.

I try and plant perennials , I have heuchera , fuchsia , Ivy , cyclamen topped up with daffodil bulbs , pansies and forget meknots ( they self seed and keep going as long as you dead head )
I'm thinking of adding hypericum , osteoprum and one of those mini roses you buy in Tesco
As long as you dead head , feed with liquid seaweed , top up with fresh compost they’ll keep going as long as you want
just refresh when you need a change

And I do love my patio Cherry in a big pot too.

Pelargoniums keep flowering until nearly Christmas here. They don’t die over winter either, the ones I bought last year are flowering again.

November is not too late to plant bulbs in pots, in fact you may find that fewer get eaten by squirrels if you plant them late (after your dahlias are done).

Creeping Jenny makes a nice foliage spiller, even in winter when the leaves turn red it still looks pretty.

If you are in a warm spot you could also use tradescantia as a spiller, I know it’s sold as a house plant but it thrives outdoors. The nanook and pallida varieties have lovely pink/purple leaves. They are often just a couple of quids at the supermarket.

Ferns are interesting for year round interest.

If you have large pots (40cm and more) you can also plant cannas and Brugmansia next spring, guaranteed wow factor well into autumn.

If you want to try growing things from seeds, zinnias are super easy to germinate, are happy in pots, flower for a long time and make good cut flowers.

I was just thinking of taking cuttings from my lavender and pelargoniums. I can guarantee that the first frost will kill of the pelargoniums.

I've had a pelargonium survive over the winter. Once. In 39 years. So unless you are in a really sheltered and mild part of the country, they are goners.

Something that I've discovered for pots recently is fleabane. It looks lovely.

I’ve got fleabane in my list for next year. A local wildlife garden designer has it in her front garden this year and I’ve been admiring it all Summer.

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy bulbs online?

Dutch Grown seem to be spamming my SM at the moment but a few MNers have said they’re good.

@HeWhoWouldAValiantBeforgot to mention that a Standard Holly is on my wish list.

@LBHSisgreat I use Dutch Bulbs (ie the wholesale arm of J Parker’s), the bulbs are a good size and healthy, they have a good variety, customer service is good and prices are reasonable.

Please can someone tell me what the tub plants are also are they evergreen and would they survive the winter in the Midlands UK
Thanks for your help

DSis has an Olive tree in a pit in the West Mids in not a particularly sheltered spot.

Such a horrid name for a pretty plant, isn't it?!

Isn’t it just. Still looking forward to growing it next year though

Heathers are great in pots and hanging baskets. I intentionally to uses a Rosemary, some heathers and a Gaultheria in my hanging baskets.

I have lots of pots. About 3/4 are permanent planting - many are small shrubs, and I have couple of standard trees. Some flower (short flowering season) and some have interesting foliage. I have a dwarf pear, a dwarf cherry, a couple of acers, a camellia, a couple of roses, a phormium, a standard viburnum, and several others.

Then I add a few seasonal flowers for some colour in the summer. I don't usually bother in the winter.