Amateur Gardening – 21 May 2019

34 AMATEURGARDENING 11 MAY 2019

5 container ideas for instant colour

Make it a memorable May

Visitnearbyparksandgarde

thatopentothepublictoseew

othergardenersaregrowing

andgeta feelforwhichplants

thrivein yourlocalsoil.

Don’tforgetthebees!May

is a busytimeforpollinators,

sowhenchoosingplants

ensureyouincludeplentyof

nectar-richoptionslikevalerian,

erysimumandeuphorbia.

Pruneearlyfloweringclemati

likeC.alpina,cirrhosaandarmandii

cutbackuntidystemstoa tightstructure if they are

outgrowingtheirallocatedspace.

Cutbackhelenium,echinaceaandphloxbyasmuch

as half to encourage bushier, more fl oriferous plants.

Buzzingwithlife

FloweringfromMaytoJuly,thisseaside-inspiredpotof

Stipatenuissima,Gauralindheimeri,Erigeronkarvinskianus

andArmeriamaritima(seathrift)willattractbeesandother

beneficialinsects.Filla largepotwithJohnInnesNo3

compost – your best bet for long-term container plantings.

Redalert

Atjust1ft/30cm

(H&S)perennial

Helichrysum

amorginumis

anidealplant

forcontainers.

Heldabove

a moundof

woolly,silvery

leaves,the

ball-shapedred

budsof‘Ruby

Red’areas

attractiveasthe

starryflowers

thatfollow–

openingin pink

andfadingto

white,fromMay

to August.

Perfumedpick

Forfabulousfragrance,youcannotbeata containerfilled

withpinksandalysum.Gardenersoftengrowthelatterin

theground,butit willcascadebeautifullyoverthesidesof

a pot.Expectflowersin Mayin milder areas; a few weeks

later in cooler parts of the country.

Foamyfavourite

Greatfora shadyspot,frothyfloweredtiarellalooksbestin

largenumbers,soplantupa generouscontainerorgroup

togetherseveralsmallerones.Ensurethecompostdoesn’t

dryout,andkeepdeadheadingformoreflowers.Can be

planted out in the garden later. H&S: 1ft (30cm).

Boldblooms

Combine

Erysimum

allionii(Siberian

wallflower)with

Primulaveris

‘SunsetShades’

andviolas

fora colour

hit.Check

gardencentres

forbedding

wallflowersat

knockdown

prices,orplant

a perennial

wallflowerwith

summerpansies

fora similar

displaythat

will last longer.

Nectar-richvalerian

will attract bees

All 5: GAP