Spring Bulbs
Plant this autumn for colour from February to June
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PDF guide · 9 pages
Pots and Patios
Containers that look good all year, from balcony to back door
Pots are the easiest way to garden in a small space, on a balcony or in a rented home. This guide covers what makes the difference between pots that struggle and pots that look good all year: the right container, the right compost, watering and feeding for each season, and six pot recipes to copy.
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Written for UK weather and soils
What's inside
- Choosing potspage 3
- Compost and plantingpage 4
- Watering and feedingpage 5
- Pot ideas for every seasonpage 6
- Plants for permanent potspage 7
- Winter care and problemspage 8
Who it's for
- Patios, balconies, courtyards and front doors
- Renters: pots move with you
- Anyone whose pots keep drying out or dying off
Free extract
When to water pots
Push a finger into the compost. If it's dry at the first knuckle, water. Lift small pots: a dry pot feels much lighter.
| Season | Typical watering |
|---|---|
| Winter | Rarely; only in long dry spells or for pots under eaves |
| Spring | Once or twice a week, more as it warms up |
| Summer | Every day in hot weather, sometimes twice for small pots and hanging baskets |
| Autumn | Once or twice a week, less as it cools |
Water until it runs out of the bottom, then stop. If compost has dried and shrunk from the sides, stand the pot in a bucket of water for half an hour.
This is a short extract. The full guide has 9 pages.
Buy this guide for £4.99Questions and answers
Yes. There's a section on balconies and roof terraces, and advice on choosing pots and plants that are easy to take with you when you move.
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