Here Are Some Of My Favourite Summer Bedding Plants
Why not fill a large terracotta pot or urn with three or five 1 litre plants depending on the size of the pot. Often simple unfussy mono planting can be extremely effective.
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Salvia Hot Lips
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Salvia Pink
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I love the effect of planting 3 pink or Hot Lips (red) Salvias in one container. They stand about a foot and a half tall and form a well balanced pot. There is something quintessentially English about them, perfect for the front of an old cottage.Love and Wishes has proved very popular.
They also work well mixed in borders, standing tall enough to be seen but mixing well with other plants like a wave of Gypsophilia in a bright colour.
Amistad is the most popular salvia of recent years to add to a summer border. I love it but I do not find it over winter as many gardening magazine sugest. It is still fabulous colour.
Amistad is the most popular salvia of recent years to add to a summer border. I love it but I do not find it over winter as many gardening magazine sugest. It is still fabulous colour.
Let’s not forget the traditional Dahlias. The Happy series takes a lot of beating for reliability. The dark red leaves and the mass of single flowers in pinks, reds and whites are a great addition to any summer border or equally fitting planted in pots. Dead head these and they will keep on flowering until we have frost in November.
If you haven’t got excited about scented Geraniums yet it’s time you did. The natural oils in the scented leaves are very uplifting. I plant them near my front door with lavender and all the other fragrant plants that give me a lift as I rush in and out. Geranium Quercifolia has pest control properties and help deter mosquitoes. I think they would be ideal near any areas you like to sit out and eat in the summer.
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| Upright zonal geraniums |
If you just want something very traditional you can’t beat pots of red geraniums zonal geraniums make a very bold pot or statement in a border.
Mixed baskets, troughs and pots flower all summer making them well worth making. I would recommend planting blues, whites and yellows in your shady areas and Caribbean colours or hot colours in your sunny spots. The pale colours tend to be lost in full sun. In very shady areas Fuchsia and Busy Lizzie thrive well. In bright hot spots it’s often worth choosing plants that will not wilt at the first drought. Geraniums and Begonias, Scaevola and Bidens cope very well. The Salvias I mentioned earlier handle hot spots exceptionally well.
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Nemesia Berries and Cream
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As always there are one or two plants that are so delicious I have to plant them. This year I wouldn’t be without Berries and Cream Nemesia. It’s come back stronger then ever with two tone purple and white flowers. Nemesia Easter Bonet is beautiful pale yellow and rosy pink tones it is most divine combination.
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| Nemesia Easter Bonnet |
Calibrachoa the trailing petunia with miniature cascading flowers is now available in so many colours and plants anywhere. It’s a real alternative to surfina.There are lots of newly bred part trailing/big bush varieties in dynamic colours and mixed soft tones. These will trail a bit but not like a huge sufina.
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| Dianthus Pink Kisses |
How about some Pink Kisses from this dazzling pink. Safe to go out now as they are a bit tougher and ready to flower all summer. Perfect for pots. Pinks also have a fragrance.Dianthus come in many different colours.
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| Osteospurnum |
Osteospernum are great in pots and will give you lots of flower all summer. They come in all colours including whites and yellows but I particularly like the deep purples.
Verbena is one of the most versatile trailing basket plants.It come in all colours. Its reliable probably the most useful bedding plant. You can plant it in a border as summer ground cover.
Summer Bedding Planting
We have hanging basket workshops in May each year so if you want to have a go at making your own basket with a little bit of help now is your opportunity.
How To Make A summer Hanging Basket
Verbena is one of the most versatile trailing basket plants.It come in all colours. Its reliable probably the most useful bedding plant. You can plant it in a border as summer ground cover.
Summer Bedding Planting
We have hanging basket workshops in May each year so if you want to have a go at making your own basket with a little bit of help now is your opportunity.
How To Make A summer Hanging Basket
