With the approach of winter it’s true to say that most of us tend to do only those essential jobs in the garden and then retreat indoors for hot cup of chocolate and a seed catalogue! However, once you’ve emptied those tired looking arrangements of summer annuals from you outdoor containers, don’t put all of them away. I firmly believe that a few containers of winter bedding plants placed strategically within viewing distance of your windows or on a patio, do a great deal to brighten up those short winter days. Even when we can’t get out into the garden there’s no reason why we still can’t enjoy it. So here are a few of my favourite ways to brighten up outdoor planters in winter.
Arrangement for an old stone urn
This year I have been lucky enough to acquire an old stone urn on a plinth which stands about three feet off the ground. I have placed it in the middle of my lavender bed which contains varieties of English lavender interspersed with clipped round box balls. Once the flower heads have all been cut from the lavender they overwinter happily creating a bed of silvery grey along with the deep bright green of the box. To compliment this I chose three different types of winter bedding to plant up the urn. Around the outside I alternated trailing ivy to soften the edges with cineraria Silverdust, a lovely upright plant with silver grey foliage to compliment the silver of the lavender. For the centre of the arrangement, I chose two types of viola. I love violas, both in spring and winter. They aren’t as garish as pansies but still have those sweet happy faces guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. On this occasion I chose a pure white variety and viola Adonis, a gorgeous pale blue and white with a slightly darker centre. Thinking ahead to spring, I also dotted a few bulbs of a dwarf narcissus into the arrangement to provide a burst of sunshine to herald the new season.
Winter hanging baskets
This year we bought some lovely vintage hanging baskets for our shop made in an aged metal with a sturdy choir lining. In order to show the baskets off to their best we decided on an arrangement of more delicate winter bedding plants to create a pretty look to compliment the vintage style of the baskets. We chose tiny winter cyclamen in pinks from pale to cerise, and white. Added to the cyclamen is trailing ivy, a dwarf euonymus and violas in a complementary colour depending on the choice of cyclamen.
There are other winter bedding plants which make equally attractive arrangements in hanging baskets. You could choose pansies alongside cineraria and ivy. Primulas and carnea or winter flowering heathers also look stunning. Bulbs like crocus and iris also do well in hanging baskets. Plant up your hanging basket now and it will provide you with stunning colour right until March or April.
Other favourites
I have a weakness for old outdoor planters and they don’t have to be large. Small old Victorian terracotta pots dotted around the patio filled with violas, pansies, the lovely foliage of ajuga, bellis and primula, all provide a splash of colour on even the dullest of winter days.
Finally, if like me, you have an old apple tree, or any other tree for that matter in your garden, why not plant a few hardy cyclamen around the base. Choose the tiny hardy varieties rather than the blousey larger ones which are more suited to indoors. Just a little bit of effort now will give such pleasure when you gaze upon your garden for the winter months to come.
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