Blog — gardening

Give your eyes a treat, not a trick, this Halloween by planting some colourful cyclamen in your window box! Using a free-draining compost, plant your window box in early winter, using cyclamen plants that are hardy and meant for outdoor use. Once planted, place your window box in a sheltered spot, protecting it from the worst of the winter weather and water enough to keep the compost moist. Red, white and pink cyclamen work well together to make a colourful winter display. Or you can add some variegated ivy to trail over the window box for a less uniform look....

For something a bit different, you can try planting ornamental cabbages in your window box, along with some white or pale pink pansies for a cool, smart look for autumn. Plant your window box in late summer using a compost that retains moisture. Keep watering and remove the flowers of the pansies as they fade to encourage more growth. Replacing the cabbages and pansies will extend your window box display through the autumn to the spring.

Confused about what to plant now in preparation for winter? One good idea is to use bright orange or yellow chrysanthemums to set your window box alight come autumn! Plant the window box in late-summer using a compost that retains moisture.Select bushy plants with plenty of buds and put the window box in a shaded spot, watering to keep the compost moist.  As these are perennial plants, they will provide a spectacular temporary display. Transfer from the window box to the garden after flowering.