4 colourful containers for spring

Prim and proper pots

Pots of purple and yellow flowers will cheer up any outdoor space. The heads of Muscari latifolium - two-tone grape hyacinths - provide smudges of blue colour in April and May. Buy them ready-potted or plant as bulbs in advance in September. Then go for it with yellow! The yellow tubular flowers of Primula veris, or cowslip, with will glow from early to late spring.

Materials:

Quality potting compost, 1 x 1 litre pot Muscari two-tone (approx £2.99 per pot), three small pots Primula veris (approx. £1.99 for a one-litre pot). For a prim and proper patio we like old fashioned glazed pots, like this set of three sage green glazed pots from Crocus (£39.99).

Step by step:

1. Water plants well before planting. As before, add crocks for drainage to the base of your pot and fill with compost, leaving room for your plants.
2. Plant your Muscari in the centre and evenly space Primula veris around the edges. Water well until the Primula veris plants are established.

A leaf encounter

Spring and early summer colour needn't come in flowering blooms. Foliage can be eye-catching in pots, especially with contrasting colours. Plum-coloured leaves look great against bright limes. For a long-lasting pot, which can be added later to your border for excellent ground cover, go for the hardy shrub Heuchera.

Pick light and bright Heuchera 'Lime Rickey', which blossoms with white flowers in late spring, and pair it with maroon Heuchera 'Licorice', 'Creme brulee' or 'Plum Pudding' for the perfect lime and purple combo.

If you are feeling daring go for splashes of yellow colour with narcissi (daffodils) in early spring. Heuchera's showy, ruffled leaves look great against contemporary metallic or black containers.

Materials:

Multi-purpose compost, 1 litre pot of lime and maroon Heuchera varieties (approx £6.99 per post), one large metallic container. We like this pair of zinc tone containers from www.greenfingers.com (£19.99) and this black sanctuary pot from Homebase (£29.99).

Step by step:

1. Prepare your plants and pots as above.
2. Plant your Heuchera and firm in well with the compost level 5cm from the rim of your pot. If you plan to keep it in the pots for more than six months add a small amount of slow release granular feed.
3. Place your Heuchera pots in a sunny, or partially shady place for them to thrive.