There are plenty of plants to replace the summer colour that is about to die off in your pots and containers. Remember to include:
a T H R I L L E R as a statement or focal point
F I L L E R S to fill the gaps and add a different texture or colour
S P I L L E R S to soften or spill over the edges
Here are just a few suggestions:
Pansies or their smaller more delicate sisters Violas – In a range of colours there is one for everyone.
Choose 1 colour per pot for masse impact and then keep deadheading them to keep them flowering for months.
Polyanthus and Primroses
Primroses are a Spring flower in a delicate shade of Yellow but sometimes they can start flowering in the dead of Winter. Polyanthus are a blinged up version of a Primrose and come in bright hues all over Winter. Keep them tidy by removing dead petals and leaves and they will keep you smiling all through the Winter.
Hellebores (Christmas Roses)
They come in white to dark purple and once Winter is over and you want something new in your pots put them in the garden for next year!
Heather
In a range of colours – can look great in combination with Hellebores and Violas as they have a contrasting texture.
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
A stunning evergreen perennial that comes in all shades from plum to lime green – great in pots and in the ground! They prefer a slightly shady spot.
Cyclamen
Beautiful nodding flowers in pink, red or white above heart shaped veined leaves.
Anemenathele lessonia (Pheasant Tails Grass)
An evergreen grass with coppery hues that adds a differnt texture and movement in a pot.
Christmas or Sweet Box (Sarcoccocca)
An evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and little white flowers that has the most gorgeous scent.
Daphne
Another evergreen shrub with delicate little pinky-white flowers with a honey like scent – make sure these are by your front door on path so you can take advantage of the perfume!
Skimmia japonica
An evergreen shrub with white flowers and red berries – very elegant
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
An evergreen shrub with delicate leaves with red tips when new
Succulents like Sempervirens are very fashionable at the moment and make a modern twist on a Winter pot – the geometry in their detail is mesmerising! I reckon these could make a fantastic Christmas present!
All these plants can be transplanted into the garden after Winter as they will all survive for years to come.
I’ve created a Winter Pots Pinterest Board with pictures of all the above so take a look and take your pick.
Share your pots with me so we can all take inspiration from what you create!
My little girl went back to school today in new shoes. She hasn’t mentioned school all Summer, but as we walked there today she talked about being nervous and excited and how that was making her tummy feel funny. She held my hand as we walked and talked and when we got there she bounced into the classroom!
I feel a bit nervous and excited too today as it was a first day for me too! For the last 6 years I have been juggling 2 jobs. As well as being The Girl who Gardens I’ve been working part-time as a marketer and fundraiser for a wonderful local charity called Us in a Bus who find a way to make conversations with people who find communicating with other people challenging.
Over the last year it has become increasingly clear that I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) do it all! So after much thinking and conversations with family, friends and strangers on holiday (!) I recently handed in my notice at Us in a Bus so I can focus my time on being Renée AKA The Girl who Gardens and Renée AKA Mum!
So today I do feel nervous and excited as it’s the 1st day proper that I haven’t gone to work for someone else, I’ve gone to work for me!! So although there isn’t any massive changes in what I’m offering, there is more opportunity for me to develop my ideas and help more families make their dream gardens come to life!
My lovely friend Sarah has helped me to create a logo, so you may well see some changes to how I look online and now I have more time I am aiming to create more advice and tips and resources for you to use.
Wish me luck and keep in touch! As one of the things I learned from my 6 years at Us in a Bus is how important conversations and connections are to me.
Renée
x
My colleagues at Us in a Bus bought me this wonderful present and I hope I can use it for a while longer this Autumn as a place to sit and create some exciting ideas that I have brewing in my head!
Now is the perfect time to sow Pumpkin Seeds ready for the Autumn! They are so easy and the seeds are big enough for kids to handle and sow for themselves. Here’s how:
Fill a pot with seed compost (make sure the pot has holes at the bottom) and place 1 seed edge ways onto the compost and then cover with a fine layer of compost
Water the pot until the compost is moist (but not dripping) and place in a clear plastic bag and tie a knot in it.
Keep the compost moist and as soon as a shoot starts to appear, open the top fully and grow on until there are several leaves.
Leave outside for a few days then plant out in the garden or a large pot. Plant the pumpkin on top of a mound of soil to ensure good drainage and keep the plant well watered.
You can use netting or a big plastic bottle cut in half to keep away pigeons, footballs, little brothers and sisters etc.
Leave your pumpkins on the plant for as long as possible until the skin has hardened. Cut each fruit from the stem leaving several inches of the stem attached, and leaving a ‘T piece’ if entering it into a competition.
Pumpkins can be prone to rotting if they are sitting on wet ground. If necessary you can raise the fruits off of the ground using a cardboard box. You can help the fruits to ripen by removing any foliage that is shading them.
I was really proud to be asked to collaborate with other creative professionals on a styled wedding photoshoot in the Autumn of 2016. It took place in woodland in Surrey with the theme ‘Frost on the Leaves’. The group wanted to explore the beauty of a late English Autumn, a magical time of coloured leaves and silver frost. I was asked to contribute one of my Garlands and created one made of Star Jasmine, Ivy, Copper Beech and Hypericum which was used as a table decoration.
It was fascinating to be involved in the process and so enjoyable to see the beautiful items created and then brought together. I definitely have my eye on the shoes!!
You can see photos of the shoot here from the day and details of all the collaborators who contributed:
Although its been drizzling most of the day here in Surrey today, it definitely feels like Spring is in the air. The Snowdrops are out, the Daffs and Crocus are coming and I saw a Robin collecting material for its next today.
But the main reason I know Spring is on the way is the flurry of enquiries I’ve had in the past 5 days. Warm weather at the weekend has definitely woken people up out of their Winter slumber!
Folk are starting to dream about Summer and what they want to be doing in their gardens . . . and when they look outside it looks pretty bleak and as far away from their dreams as possible. If this sounds like you and you want to turn that bleakness into reality it sounds similar you need a Spring Garden Hoedown with me! Here’s what happens:
We stand in your garden with a cuppa and talk anything garden related! Book me for a minimum of an hour and we can cover design, planting, gardening good practice and techniques.
I’ve talked through the following with clients: reshaping beds, moving plants, lawn care, planting suggestions, planting & pruning techniques and where to put the sun lounger!
£45 per hour (+ expenses if further afield than 5 miles radius of Redhill)
Email me at renee.canter@uwclub.net to book a slot before Easter!
I have been working with the team at Space&Matter over the last year on a project in Hampstead. They have renovated a mews house from top to bottom and wanted some input on planting for a small courtyard and living wall on the roof terrace. It was a challenging site but it was great to go back this month to see how the planting is settling in and developing and to discuss maintenance with the homeowner. You can see more of this beautiful project at their website.
Pansies or their smaller more delicate sisters Violas – In a range of colours there is one for everyone.
Polyanthus and Primroses
Hellebores (Christmas Roses)
Heather
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Cyclamen
Anemenathele lessonia (Pheasant Tails Grass)
Christmas or Sweet Box (Sarcoccocca)
Daphne 
Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)
Succulents like Sempervirens are very fashionable at the moment and make a modern twist on a Winter pot – the geometry in their detail is mesmerising! I reckon these could make a fantastic Christmas present!
