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Pots of colour
Reach for the paintbrush and spray can, says Gardener's World's Paul Williams, and turn your summer containers into works of art. Photos by Torie Chugg
Reproduced from May 07 issue of Gardeners' World magazine. This month's issue on sale now. Subscribe now by direct debit and save 25 per cent.
Shape, form, habit, colour?
Of all the characteristics of plants, I think colour is the most exciting to design with. And if you coordinate your container with the flowers or foliage, you've got yourself an art installation. Those wonderful paint-mixing machines at DIY stores have opened up a whole rainbow of possibilities. Take along a few flower heads from the plant you want to match and off you go.
When it comes to interior design, most people are pretty sure about their colour choices, but that confidence often evaporates as soon as they step into the garden. If that's you, then tear out pages with plant combinations you love from this magazine, or browse paint charts for colours that work well together. Another tip is to make an arrangement of plants in your basket at the garden centre before you buy. You'll easily find all the plants I've used here - or a very close match - at garden centres.
I hope these container recipes will inspire you to experiment with colour. It's great fun and, if it doesn't work, you can always reach for another can of paint!
Orange squash
Painting For an intense burst of colour, I gave this pot two coats of orange emulsion.
Planting Gazanias capture the energy of my favourite hot, fiery tones. They're the mainstay of this display and guided my choice of container colour. The pot is rather dumpy, so to mask this I've added the diminutive creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) to trail over the sides. The flowers of the lantana change colour as they mature, which in this variety, 'Kolibri', leads to a bubbly mix of oranges and yellows. As the planting matures, the lantanas will shoot above the gazanias, providing height to balance the pot.
Position Give this container a sunny spot on a warm, sheltered patio.
Aftercare Bring the tender lantanas under cover for the winter - a frost-free conservatory is ideal. If you don't have space, take cuttings. In spring, replace the creeping zinnias and gazanias with new plants.
We used
- Terracotta pot, 32cm tall/35cm diameter (from a selection at B&Q, 0845 609 6688, www.diy.com)
- Dulux emulsion in orange (Moroccan Sands 1), around £2 for 250ml
- 6 x orange gazanias
- 6 x creeping zinnias (Sanvitalia procumbens)
- 2 x Lantana camara 'Kolibri'
Know your colours
- Bright reds and oranges can ignite passion - watch out, as in strong sunlight their effect is magnified!
- Purple is arguably the most versatile colour. It can be used in sophisticated schemes with whites and silvers, or with deep, blue-tinted reds for a regal look. For a cool but lively fusion, marry purple with primrose yellow.
- Light blues are cheery, while darker, red-tinted blues can be quite sombre.
- Pale primrose yellow is a gentle foil for strong, dark colours, whereas a rich egg-yolk shade can be as feisty as orange.
- White is the ultimate cooler and adds airiness to pastel yellows and pinks. Use it as a highlight to lift darker combinations or to brighten gloomy corners of your garden.
- If you've overdosed on colour, reach for green - it's an essential calm filler between flowers.
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