CREATE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLOUR WITH SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS
Summer is just around the corner! Now is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor space for all your favourite summer activities. Whether you’re relaxing, hosting a BBQ party, or having a paddling pool day with the little ones, add a burst of seasonal colour with bedding plants
Bedding plants are suited to gardens of all shapes and sizes. They’re just as happy in pots and baskets as they are in beds and borders, meaning you can easily grow them on patios and balconies. There are so many shade and style varieties to choose from - create contrasting colour schemes, or go for the trendier monochrome look by pairing colours of similar tones, like orange and red or blue and lilac
Whether you’ve got a large garden to co-ordinate, or just need a few pots to add colour to your balcony or windowsill, there are endless ways to use bedding plants to add a fresh wave of colour and gorgeous blooms from late spring through to autumn, making them one of the most popular additions to any summer garden
WHERE TO PLANT BEDDING PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN PLANT UP SOME POTS
Spruce up your patio or balcony with a few planted containers. Choose plants that have similar colour tones to your pots for a coordinated feel. Create a statement with several identical pots. Or go for an eclectic mix showcasing different varieties and colours. Terracotta pots or wooden containers will give you a traditional look, while eco-friendly plastics and bright colours will bring a contemporary feel
TRY A HANGING BASKET
Mix and match bedding plants in a hanging basket to create a high impact feature to liven up a doorway, wall or fence. For best results, pack in as many bedding plants as you can. Position upright varieties like petunias or begonias in the centre, with trailing plants like lobelia or water hyssop (bacopa) around the edges to create a full looking waterfall effect. Remember to water the basket every day and you’ll get months of lovely flowers
BRIGHTEN UP A WINDOWSILL
No garden? No problem. Bedding plants can help you make the most of whatever outdoor space you have. Choose a size and shape of container that suits your tastes and you can transform your windowsill or doorstep with beautiful blooms. Geraniums are a good choice if your windowsills are exposed
TOP TIPS FOR GROWING BEDDING PLANTS
Busy Lizzies
Busy Lizzies thrive in shade, so they’re a top choice if you want to brighten a shady spot. In pretty shades of pinks, reds, oranges, purples and white, this variety is ideal for bringing together lots of different colour schemes. They’re long lasting and will thrive well into autumn if you feed them weekly and care for them properly
Begonias
Begonias are happy to grow in most conditions, making them perfect for all kinds of spaces. This pretty variety has small red, pink and white flowers, contrasting with shiny, rounded, succulent leaves in bronze or green
Petunias
You can’t beat petunias for a spectacular hanging basket. Just a few plants create an enormous display, making them real value for money. Different petunia varieties have blooms in vivid shades of pink, purple, blue, white and red. They’re perfect flowers for sun traps in your outdoor spaces
Top tips for success
You won’t find a lower maintenance group of plants than bedding plants, but there are still a few things you can do to help them grow healthily and produce flowers for months on end:
Add slow-release fertiliser to the compost when you’re planting to give your plants the best possible start
Keep on top of watering (roughly once a day) and never let the compost dry out
Snip off faded flowers to encourage new blooms to grow
Looking for advice? Find more ideas and advice pages, chat to one of our in-store plant and gardening experts, or join one of our free monthly grow how sessions