Planting up pots for Summer Colour - Annuals

Spring has well and truly sprung and summer is fast approaching.  I’m busy helping clients with planting schemes, gardening advice and border rejuvenation all helped by the warm sunny weather we’ve been having.  The nurseries and garden centres are brimming with lots of fresh plants to tempt us, but which ones are best for brightening up the patio in summer?

Nemesia

Trailing Geranium

Verbena

There are several ways to bring colour to areas around the house or patio and it doesn’t have to be all about deadheading high maintenance annuals!  I love a pelargonium or too and i’m rather partial to trailing plants like Verbena so I create a few pots which are purely about the fresh vibrancy these bring and then the rest of my pots have a more long lasting planting to give colour all year...
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Annuals for Summer pots
If you’re looking for plants to give a blast of colour from June to September and you don’t mind a bit of maintenance then combinations which include Pelargoniums (Geraniums by another name), Fuchsias,  Begonias, Nemesia and Busy Lizzies will fulfil your needs.  These will generally give upright height in a pot which can be surrounded by trailers such as Verbena, Surfinias, Bacopa.  Given a good quality moisture retentive compost with a measure of Swell Gell and slow release fertiliser these will see you well in to Autumn.  These plants are generally tender annuals so once they get frosted they will need to be discarded and placed with autumn/winter bedding plants.

Perennial plants can be used in containers for summer colour to, find out more in the 'Planting up Summer Pots' category

For my tips on how to plant up pots and hanging baskets look out for an upcoming blog post on my website www.belgrierson.co.uk/advice.  

Author: Bel Grierson of Bel Grierson Garden Design Limited

Expert Plantswoman,  Garden and Planting Designer with 21+ years experience in horticulture.  Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small.​

Bel Grierson offers Garden and Planting Design in Loughborough, Leicestershire and beyond. Bel is an experienced Garden and Planting Designer and Plantswoman with 21+ years experience in the industry. A fully qualified horticulturalist and designer, Bel’s expertise enables her to design, create, rejuvenate and manage beautiful gardens for clients, listening to their needs and desires for the space. Bel offers a flexible service tailored to suit each project and the client requirements. Services offered by Bel Grierson Garden Design include: 2D Garden Design Plans, 3D Garden Design Visuals, Scope of works for landscapers, Setting Out Plans for landscapers, Planting Plans, Maintenance Schedules, Plant sourcing, Planting services.

Bel Grierson Garden Design Ltd is based in the East Midlands and offers services to clients in Loughborough, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicester and across ​Leicestershire, South Derbyshire & South Nottinghamshire.