HAPPY POTTER

EMBRACE THE SUNNIER MONTHS WITH PRETTY CONTAINER PLANTS

- DIARMUID GAVIN

AFTER hosting winter displays and spring bulbs, now’s the time for summer colour in my pots.

That's been my job this week and I like using terracotta pots because they complement most types of planting.

They can dry out quickly so require a commitment to keeping them well watered throughout the warmer months. I've emptied the old compost around the garden beds and I am using a good-quality multi-purpose compost that will support my choice of plants.

This combined with fortnightly liquid feeding and deadheading should ensure lots of flowers to enjoy over the next few months.

As we are well past any fear of frost, there are plenty of plants that will thrive now.

Tender bedding plants can be used and you may have been growing your own from seed which might be pot ready now.

It is easy to be seduced by the trays of brightly coloured flowers for sale but in general it’s a good idea to buy plants that have plenty of buds yet to blossom.

I've chosen a mix of perennial and annuals, some old favourites and some new ones to try out.