A plant in a pot for every spot

As every gardener knows, there are myriad reasons for growing plants in pots.

Chief among them is the ability to have plants where it is not possible to go into the ground.

Soften the appearance of patios, decking and balconies, and pretty up doorsteps, wide pathways and those awkward spaces along the edges of walls, buildings and driveways.

Pots are of course portable, and taking advantage of this opens up all sorts of opportunities for keeping your outdoor space looking beautiful for longer.

Containers also give you the chance to overcome some of the natural conditions found in your garden, allowing you to grow a wider variety of plants.

In theory, you can grow any plant in a pot, including annuals, perennials, herbs, edibles, alpines, grasses and ferns, and even trees, shrubs and climbers.

But the secret to success is in picking the varieties best able to cope with the container life.

Roots are the least glamourous part of a plant, but they are what keeps it alive. In a pot, roots have limited space to grow, limited nutrients and limited water. So you need to chose plants with modest requirements.

Anything described as “vigorous” should be avoided, as it will have an insatiable appetite for water and feed and its roots will soon fill all available space, leaving little room for the compost and water it needs to stay alive, leaving you with a sad, stunted display. Instead look for those described as “compact”, “dwarf” or “slow-growing”.

You also want to choose plants with top-to-bottom good looks: some are better in mixed borders where unsightly lower growth can be hidden up.

Hanging basket plants are just as effective in planters, and can be combined in much the same way, just with more focus on what grows up than what grows down. In larger planters you can use perennials, shrubs, grasses or larger half-hardy annuals as your centrepiece and surround with basket plants to provide the froth and trail around the edges.

Alpines and succulents are good easy-care options for containers as they require little watering, and their shallow root systems make them the best choice for saucers.

Mixed herb pots can be as pretty as they are useful, but do read labels to check ultimate sizes. Mints definitely fall in the ‘vigorous’ category so don’t make them share with anything else!

In Suffolk most of us have alkaline soil, but using ericaceous potting compost in containers means you can grow the likes of acid-loving Rhododendrons, Azaleas and blue-flowered Hydrangeas - just remember to give them rain water rather than our hard tap water.

If you are determined to have flowers in a shady part of the garden, plants in pots can be the solution. Start them off in the sun and when they come into bloom move them into position, where they should be fine for several weeks before they need to come back into the sunshine. Having two sets in rotation will keep the show going.

Containers can also fill temporary gaps in borders where you can’t dig down, such as where spring bulb displays have finished.

Whatever you are growing in pots, using good quality compost and mixing in long-release fertiliser is a must for strong, healthy growth, as is regular watering.

• See suggested plants for pots at www.katiesgarden.co.uk/advice