Winning the spring jackpot

For instant colour and structure, you can't beat containers, which you can easily move and refresh

- With DAVID DOMONEY

March is just around the corner, and containers are a lovely way to welcome it in. A good spring container doesn't need to be complicated. It simply needs to look bright now, stay tidy through changeable weather, and give you an easy route to refresh it as the season moves on.

STRUCTURAL LAYER

Start with a hardy grass to give the pot shape and movement, even when flowers come and go. For smaller containers, Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' is hard to beat for neat form and colour. If you prefer a blue-grey tone in a medium pot, Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' makes a smart, compact mound.

For larger pots, Stipa tenuissima brings a softer, airy feel that looks good from every angle. Plant the grass slightly off-centre, so everything feels relaxed and natural.