Tower and Town, October 2024 (view the full edition)Autumn Pots and BasketsAutumn is usually the season when the garden starts to look a bit tired and bedraggled as plants finish flowering and their leaves begin to drop. However there are plenty that still look good, especially if we continue to have milder weather. Pots, hanging baskets and window boxes that have been adding summer colour can be revamped to provide something nice to see from a window or welcome you by the door. Autumn bulbs and evergreens are available to buy and cheer us through the winter months, with many flowering year after year. Start by cleaning your chosen container and assembling some compost with a little grit or perlite for drainage. Hanging baskets Line the basket well with moss from the lawn or garden centre, part fill with your planting medium and place a small empty flowerpot into the compost to aid watering by ensuring water can get to the bottom of the basket. Plant up with trailing or colourful foliage plants such as heucheras, bugle, small ferns and grasses, variegated ivies or whatever is available at your preferred retailer or in your garden. More colour can be added with autumn cyclamen, pansies or violas. Pots can provide instant drama and needn't be complicated. There are bright stems and leaves, berries and flowers to choose from which give a prolonged season of interest. For the thriller, filler and spiller effect use larger plants such as cornus or viburnum, grasses, flowers such as hellebores or pansies and ivies. Another approach is to layer in Spring bulbs as a lovely bonus to look forward to. When planting pots add a crock at the bottom to protect the drainage hole and stand on 'feet' or stones to ensure good drainage in wetter weather. To layer bulbs add some planting medium and start with the larger ones such as tulips - there are gorgeous colours to choose from. Add more compost followed by a layer of smaller bulbs such as narcissus or crocus, topping off with winter foliage plants. Place your container in a sheltered place while your plants establish themselves. Happy gardening. Jane Tilbrook |