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TABLETOP_CENTREPIECE_SUCCULENTS_Karen-Chopp_for-April-23

Design tips and plant combination ideas for containers

Creating and designing a container garden is an opportunity to experience an outstanding spectrum of colour and texture. Moveable feasts, container gardens offer a luxuriant start to the growing season and the potential for eye-catching displays that can be enjoyed during the hottest months of summer and into the cooler temperatures of autumn.

Creating a spring container

If you’re keen to start gardening, but your soil is too cold and damp for digging, consider potting up a spring container instead. Depending on the weather, a few spring containers planted with beautiful, cold-tolerant plants now will give you several weeks of colour.

How to make an elegant topiary

A touch of formality is not out of place in most gardens. Trimmed cones and spheres of foliage — classic topiary — are especially suited to containers.

Tall blue salvia, coleus, double impatiens and English ivy. (Garden Making photo)

Perfect container plants

When shopping for container plants, it helps to have a list of favourites that you can always count on. Here are Beckie Fox’s suggestions.