Planting a spring container

Use hardy varieties that can withstand cold,

- Ruth Hayes

ONE of the joys of spring is starting to fill the garden with colour and dreaming of warmer days ahead. One of the easiest ways of injecting some brightness into the season is planting up patio containers and hanging baskets.

The Easter bank holiday is the perfect time to do this, but we are not out of winter's woods yet and with the climate becoming increasingly erratic, play safe when it comes to early spring planting.

Frosts can still strike in any part of the UK, so limit your plant choices to hardy bedding varieties and bulbs, such as pansies, primulas, daisies, crocuses and dwarf daffodils, tulips and irises.

You can add extra interest with herbs and foliage plants, but it is too early to start adding summer plug plants to an outside display as they will quickly succumb to sub-zero temperatures.