Stalwarts of Spring
If you didn’t plant any bulbs last autumn then make a note of what you like this season and make sure you put them on your shopping list for this coming autumn. You can redress the balance later in the year by buying and choosing summer flowering bulbs now. Unwins has an excellent range to choose from.
Additionally visit the garden centre and buy a few pots of spring flowering bulbs that are looking good now to create an instant impact in the garden or in pots and containers.
Container Colour
Groups of spring containers can really lift your spirits in spring. Planting a Spring Container is a quick and easy weekend project that will bring years of enjoyment. Choose containers that complement each other and plant up some of them with spring flowering bulbs for a stunning spring display but complement these with a collection of shrubs and evergreen plants that will add further colour interest and texture.
Flower Power
Add some drama to your planters this spring by using some reliable, colourful performers. Choose plants that have prolific flowers such as hydrangeas. These are fantastic in large pots and carry masses of large flowers from mid to late summer. Choose from classic white flowers for a clean, fresh look, or opt for baby blue or pink cultivars to ring the changes. Hydrangeas are affected by the soil conditions and can change colour in certain situations. Alkaline soils promote pink flowers, whereas blue flowers predominate in acid conditions. In a container you can provide specific conditions to suit the flower colour you prefer, so if your garden soil is alkaline and you want pink flowers then you can choose to grow blue hydrangeas using Westland Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Compost with added John Innes or Westland West+ Advanced Ericaceous Compost. Then feed throughout the growing season with Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Dilute n Grow or top dress now with Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Granular Plant Food.
Heathers are also an excellent choice for pots and containers. Use them en masse as instant interest and colour, or interplant them with spring and summer flowering bedding and bulbs. Choose from soft and vibrant pink varieties or opt for white. Many types of heather require acidic soil to thrive and if your soil is not suitable you can easily grow them in containers of specialist ericaceous compost such as Westland Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Compost with added John Innes or Westland West+ Advanced Ericaceous Compost. Alternatively if you have alkaline soil or you want to plant heathers in containers of traditional compost with other non-ericaceous plants, choose Ericaceous varieties that will tolerate the higher soil pH (alkalinity).
Blossom Wonders
When the spring blossom starts to burst it’s a signal that things are warming up. Maybe it’s the blush pink flowers that seem to add a comfy colour to the garden, or perhaps it’s the contrast of spring blossom against pure blue sky.
There are plenty of trees and even some shrubs that instantly add a colourful drama to the garden.
If you need another reason to grow them then consider the autumn bounty of fruit, especially from apple and pear trees. The stunning spring blossom and prospect of home grown fresh fruit simply has to be a good reason to plant fruit trees now. And don’t forget the ornamental Cherry blossom with blousy pink blooms like candyfloss that transform gardens nationwide.
Foliage effect
You don’t need to rely on flowers to create colour and interest in pots and containers. Chose evergreen plants with dramatic foliage such as phormiums, grasses and Cordylines. These dramatic red leaved Cordyline plants make excellent specimen plants in planters, but they can also be successfully used to complement spring bulbs such as early daffodils and tulips. Later in the season when the bulbs have finished flowering you can replace them with vibrant summer bedding. Choose contrasting hot colours such as yellow, orange and red for striking results.
Rhodo’s for everyone 
For stunning spring colour plant a rhododendron in the garden. These fantastic flowering shrubs will reliably perform year after year. Rhododendrons need acid soil to thrive and though they may survive in an alkaline soil they will not perform to their full potential. Plant them using Westland Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Compost with added John Innes or Westland West+ Advanced Ericaceous Compost. Feed them with a dedicated plant food such as Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Dilute n Grow or top dress now with Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Granular Plant Food.
Alternatively dwarf rhododendrons look fantastic in pots and containers. They also make wonderful gifts for gardeners. A rich red variety would make a lovely gift for a loved one. When planting acid loving plants like rhododendrons use a dedicated compost such as Westland Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Compost. This is specially formulated to create the right acidic conditions for your ericaceous plants. It does not contain lime and allows acid loving plants to flourish.
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