Container HEAVEN

Cheer up your patio or balcony with pots brimming with colour

- SARAH WILSON

In warmer weather, containers really come into their own, with such a wide selection of flowering plants to choose from that are at their very best. From ideas for arrangements to suit large patios and decks to more modest terraces and balconies where space is tight, there are plenty of planting schemes that will work well for you.

The secret is to use a simple mix of colour, texture and form, and containers in a variety of heights and sizes for maximum impact. Whether you like small terracotta pots featuring single flowers or large tubs packed with a range of plants, you'll find inspiration and know-how here on how to create successful colour schemes and planting combinations. 

Thrills and spills

Head gardener Josie Lewis works at Sarah Raven's Perch Hill, in East Sussex, and is amazing at getting the right pot combinations. She always considers form and scale, as well as colour, for the best eye-catching containers. Josie suggests sticking with the following formula: 'First choose a thriller - something dominant you love for wow factor. Then go for a filler, which backs up your thriller and is a similar colour. Next comes a pillar to give height and scale. Finally, add a spiller that tumbles over the edge of the pot.'

Low-maintenance blooms