Bring your garden to life this winter. With the right plants, you can create striking, long-lasting and even scented winter containers that look beautiful through the coldest months.
In this video I show you three easy container style using different plant and pot combinations, so you can choose the look that best suits your garden.
ALAN IS USING:
Outdoor plants, pots and barrel from Blue Diamond Garden Centres https://rb.gy/6wl4lh
Multi-Purpose Compost from Melcourt – https://rb.gy/f57db8
Tools from Spear and Jackson – https://rb.gy/6wl4lh
Hose from Gardena – https://rb.gy/ud9afv
Trough from Forest Garden – https://rb.gy/kuwcq7
My name’s Alan Titchmarsh, and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome you to my YouTube channel! I’ve been a gardener for over 60 years and I can safely say that gardening is one of life’s greatest joys, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
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I love summer containers for adding instant color to your garden, but you can also plant up containers that look beautiful in winter. I’m going to show you three different looks. Don’t forget to comment and tell me which one you like best. First up, a sophisticated container for a city garden. I’ve chosen a pot that’s ceramic glazed in a kind of soft dove gray, which I reckon will go with any color scheme, but inside it a particularly cool mixture of plants. I’m using for all these containers ordinary Pete-free multi-purpose compost. Top a bit more up in there. Don’t fill it too full to start with because you’re going to displace some of the compost when you put the the pots themselves in. So spread that out. Lightly firm it in the center. This is cranata. A good alternative to box. Elix doesn’t get box moth or box blight. I’ve watered all these plants well. Tapped them out of their containers. Then for and aft, I do like a bit of trailing ivy. I’ve chosen a white variegated variety here rather than a yellow variegated one cuz it’s going to match much better and tone in with this dove gray pot. So, one at the front, one at the back. Ease that out. Drop that in. I’m going to top up with compost when I finish planting so I can leave some of these root balls a little bit proud for now. Don’t rush it when you’re doing it. Just savor the moment. Take your time being creative. Delightful. That one goes down there. Tuck some compost around it. And then on either side, cichlammen. Not totally hardy, but in a city where it’s seldom frosted because of city heat, they come through the winter really well. I’ve got four of these and I’m going to put them in at either side of this ivy at the front. On either side of those two cichlmen, these little things, this is called calosphilus. It almost reminds me of wireetting, but it’s a lovely blue gray plant. Again, borderline hardy, so only for a sushi garden where it will be okay right the way through the winter unless it gets absolutely bitterly cold. Tucking that in. Important with all these things actually not to plant them too deeply, otherwise they they get too soggy at the neck, which is where the stem meets the roots. And if you just give them that little bit of lift there, it keeps them clear of the soggy bit. And then all I’ve got left to put in now are the other two cichlmens. And sometimes, you know, a smaller number of plants is more effective than dotting all different kinds of things in. Last one going in. And there we have our city container. I think that’s rather nice. So, we’ve got Alex Krat in the middle and ivy going down the front just breaking up the edge of that plot. Two cichlmen, two calis, two more cichlmen, and another ivy. Do you like it? Don’t decide yet. I’ve got two more to go. Time for something a little more rustic. Half a coopered barrel. Lovely word that isn’t coopering. Making of barrels with these staves here with the metal hoops going around holding them all together. Half a barrel here. Drainage shows in the base so it doesn’t turn into a bog garden through the winter. And again, multi-purpose compost. I’m using just four plants. Beauty on a budget. First up, this a glorious winter flowering heliore. You gaze into these flowers and you think, “How can something be so beautiful at this time of year?” And I’ve already had a bee buzzing around this. Now, the technique for getting all plants out of their pots is the same. Take one hand, put it over the surface of the compost so you’re supporting that root ball. Use your heel of your hand to push the pot rim away. And then it’s really firmly supported without doing any damage to that root ball. Again, planting it so that the level of compost in the root ball is level with the finished compost in the barrel. The next one to go in is this chap here. Now this is skimia skimia rubella a low growing shrub evergreen. And these flower buds are I reckon even more exciting and interesting than the flowers when they open which are sort of little white stars but it stays in bud for weeks and weeks and weeks. If you look at this, you will see that there are actually two plants in here. Two for the price of one. Now, if at the end of the winter you want to plant these out in your garden, separate them. Just pull them apart so that each has a good supply of roots. I’m tucking that right down close to this hel. You see, they don’t grow much in the winter, so you don’t need to leave them any space to expand. At the back here, a fern. Now, not all ferns are evergreen. Some of them die down for winter. This is dryopterisa tarta. And these fronds here are going to last. So I’m going to make a hole towards the back there. It’s a bit of a background plant. Don’t be frightened of green in winter. It’s really quite useful for showing off other colors. And alongside what’s coming next and that particular skimia, it will look really good. Now these are really usually quite pop band and will take a bit of getting out. Yeah, I thought so. Come on, you can do it. Pull. There we are. Cool. Look at that. Absolutely solid roots. You’re ready for a breather, aren’t you? Now, look at that with that heli ball. Isn’t that great? And with that skimier in front, tucking the compost around it again as with the others. And making my final hole, which is for a different kind of skimier, a skimier that’s most attractive when it’s in berry. This is skimia ree zena. And these berries here last for weeks and weeks and weeks. Same thing. Support it well. Take the There’s a potbound plant. How about that? You can tell it’s well established, can’t you? When it’s pot. And that is finally going in down here. And you see this woodland feel I’ve kind of got is helped a lot by the fern. And there we have it. I think that’s really quite festive, don’t you? good for Christmas. But unlike the city pot which is good all the way round, this has a definite front on it and it’s just about there and you can see you’re now looking at it front on. Look at all your plants when you’re planting and face them up as my boss used to tell me. And then you’ll get a container that looks like that. Bunny isn’t it? Two down, one to go. Now, before you decide which one you like best, wait and see what I’m going to do here. Because here, I am majoring on both winter color and winter scent. And the one plant that is going to give you scent like no other in the winter, you will probably think looks extremely boring. This is it. This is sark cocka, the Christmas box. And if you look at the flower buds here, these green flower buds, you’ll see its potential because when these open, they turn into white whiskery flowers. Still not much to look at. But I’m not kidding when I say the scent will stop you in your track. It’s the most fabulous plant. Should be in every garden. It’s not a sort of headliner, a centerpiece, but in the corner here, it’ll offer me a bit of height at one end of this trough. What’s going in next? Right in front of it, back to my old friend, the trailing ivy. Now, I used a white one on the city pot here. I’m using a yellow variegated one. There we go. In there. Gorgeous. So, that’s filled that corner up and hidden the bottom of the other plant. And at the back here, a bit more color. I think we’re ready for now, aren’t we? These winterflowering violets are gorgeous little winterflowering pansies. And that I’m putting in at the back. Now you might think, “Oh, crumbs. It’s not very tall to be put in at the back.” You’ll see why I’m putting it at the back cuz I’ve got something even shorter to go in front of it. In it goes down there. Compost back around it. And immediately in front of it, a bit of Yorkshire heather. The winterflowering heather is a really useful plant. During the 1960s, a bed full of heather and conifers was ah so in is now so out. But these little heathers, this one still in bud, rosy pink in bud. In you go, planted quite close together will give you a lovely bit of winter color. Glorious feet of nature really. It’s like a little It’s like a miniature conifer, isn’t it? And I’m going to pack three of these in front of that panzy, which I think they compliment really rather well. Have you decided which one you like the most? I’m not finished here yet. Next, our old friend, the heliore, but here a white one. So often called the Christmas rose. It’s not a rose at all, but it was always called the Christmas rose. A rose is a flower in the old days and the Christmas rose, this glorious white one, will flower right the way through December and January. Loads of buds to come on this. Dip it out and lower it into the hole. On this back corner, I’m going for the fragrance again, but this time an aroma rather than a fragrance. Rosemary, a glorious evergreen. Fabulous with roast lamb and other delicacies on the dining table. Just crush that foliage. Oh, it’s gorgeously rosemary. Like nothing smells like rosemary, does it? This is going to occupy this back corner. And in the foreground, another bit of ivy to match that one the other side. And again the yellow variegated one picking up the color here of the fading helibor flowers. The last thing to go in is another heather. This is a variety of kuna. This is a variety of Erica. Both of them heathers really but flowers running right the way up those stems and it’s going in that front corner. If you’re enjoying the gardening content on the channel, why not subscribe? Every week you’ll find new tips, inspiration, and ideas to help you transform your own garden. Just one finishing touch, these trails of ivy that are going right across the floor, you can shorten them. It will encourage them come the spring to branch out and they’re not doing any good to anybody right the way down there. So, a more lateral display here. Still using ivy, this time yellow variegated to complement this helibor here. fragrance from the rosemary and in a few weeks time from this saka cocka the Christmas botch you’ll come out of your door and think I’m glad to be alive when it comes to watering always water them in it settles the compost around the roots but then winter containers don’t need saturating nearly as often as those in spring and summer. Keep an eye on it. And the chances are if it’s raining every few days, you won’t have to water it at all. But if you notice that the surface of the compost is getting a bit dry, give it a soak and don’t go back again with the water until it dries out again. And a final thought, place your container where it can be seen through a window. That way, when the weather’s rubbish, you can still enjoy it. So, three different winter containers. The cool, sleek city container in its glazed pot, the woodland plant container in its half barrel, and here a lateral display in a trough offering fragrance as well as color. Which is your favorite? Comment below. If you want more gardening advice and inspiration like this, then why not subscribe to my channel? I’m posting new videos every week.
35 Comments
Love all 3 but particularly container 1. So pretty..good old Yorkshire, I'm born and bred from Lothersdale.
Morning 👋 number 3 love the idea of scents greeting you , but the container being long also appeals to me as seeing the plants in a clear line appleals as well. ❤🇦🇺
All are gorgeous but I particularly like the woodland version — love the bright colors and the rustic feel!
All are beautiful but the woodland one is my fav.
Number 2 for me. ❤
Container no2 for me Alan
I like 3 because I would like the Fragrance
All of the containers are lovely, but number three is my favourite, absolutely beautiful. Thank you for these very informative and inspirational videos, Alan; you explain everything so well; I have enjoyed your gardening programmes for years ❤
Lovely 😊
I love Container 2 😍
Love container number 2 ❤ … followed by number 3 a close second ❤
Love them all, but number 2 very slightly in first place.
Witaj Alanie😄
Mam na imię Ewa I jestem Twoje fanką.
Mieszkam w Polsce i niestety nie znam angielskiego.
Mam prośbę 😀 włącz proszę automatyczne tłumaczenie abym mogła oglądać i rozumieć Twoje filmy.
Pozdrawiam Ewa
No 3 – fragrance wins every time for me. I love the smell of Winter box
All look lovely. The 1st container I bought one about a month ago but in sage green and filled it with tulip bulbs.
love them all
All three are beautiful but my favourite has to be no.2, I love the Hellebores and the skimmia together 💕💕💕
Container number 3.
All lovely! ❤
Number 3 ❤ How beautiful they all are, though.
All 3 are lovely, but number 3 is particularly appealing with the fragrant plants 😊
Thank you!
Love them all but I reckon if I have to pick then 2 would be it.
Ooh, I love no3.. Your amazing 👏
I love your program, I really enjoy watching all of it.
Hi Alan ! I think no 4 is very nice, I have trouble with the pink plants ! I can’t have anything pink in my garden……I think it comes from my Mum …she had everything pink ! I do have quite a few of the Grey pots myself, got them from Amazon x ❤️🇬🇧
I'd go no 2. Your video inspired me so I have been out and got a couple of ferns, helebores and winter pansies to make a slightly different version.
Love all of them. ❤
All three are beautiful, but my favourite is the rustic country container. It's so lovely and festive!
Very weird planting technique. Not disturbing the root ball at all. Can only assume the plants are going back to the nursery? 😉
I love them all! But if you twist my arm to choose, it would be the City Container. So elegant.
Thank you. Some great ideas. I need to plant up a trough under my porch entrance to our new house…a problematic area…heavily shaded on north side of house and in a windy spot! Your woodland selection might be an answer😀
The woodland container is my favourite.
❤️ number one
No 2 for me.
Difficult to decide, they are lovely.