GARDENS
Remember, remember
The days may be getting shorter but there’s still time to get outside. So don’t forget to plant, prune and plan for your best-ever gardening year
by LUCY HALL
ENJOY AUTUMN’S STARRY SHOW
A vivid seasonal container is a great way to ring the changes and distract from winding-down in the border. Colourful shrubs, lush ferns, violas, heucheras and ivy are key players to create a potted landscape that holds the spotlight till spring. It’s easy to achieve with the ‘Thriller, Filler, Spiller’ formula. ‘Thrillers’ are the focal plant – a stand-out shrub such as berried callicarpa (top left) or elegant hydrangea. ‘Fillers’ are the supporting act – compact grasses, ferns, or violas that complement the main act. ‘Spillers’ tumble over the edge of the pot, giving a sense of permanence – try heuchera or variegated ivy. Pack the plants closer than in a summer pot, as little grows over winter, and raise containers onto pot feet to avoid waterlogging from the ground up.