Container Planting

Step 2: Fill the container

Ensure your container has sufficient drainage holes. To prevent these becoming blocked by compost, place curved pieces of broken plant pot or similar over the holes.
Add the compost - if the container is very large and you are planting bedding then you can reduce the amount needed by adding large lumps of polystyrene packing material at the bottom. Do not do this with smaller containers or where the planting is dense.
Firm the compost lightly. Loam-based composts can be firmed more after planting, but take care not to over-compress loam-free composts.
Tip: Ensure there is a gap of 2.5cm (1in) at the top as a watering space when the container is finished.

Step 3: Plant up

Select good quality plants - start with good-looking well-rounded specimens and thoroughly soak by immersing in a bucket of water.
Arrange plants on top of the container to compose the best design.
Remove from pots. Ideally, the plant's roots should just be reaching the outside of the pot. This means they are not pot bound and are growing vigorously. If there is a dense rootball, tease larger roots apart to encourage them to grow into new compost.
Plant from the centre of the container outwards. Start by making a hole big enough for the rootball of the central plant. Lower the plant in, firming the compost to remove any large air gaps. Add the rest of the plants in similar fashion around the edges.
Level the surface of the compost and water thoroughly until water emerges from the base. Add a mulch of decorative gravel.
Tip: Use a similar size pot to make a hole and firm the compost around so you can drop in the plant when removed from its pot. All the plants should end up at the same depth as they were in their original containers.