This is the second in a series of four blogs about planting in pots

Pots do not need big specimens to impress, and keeping it simple can be highly effective. Take Armeria maritima (Sea Thrift), a native species that looks pretty enough on its own but bursts into spectacular life when planted en masse. Peppered in a lovely cushion of white or pink flowers it is incredibly attractive and doesn't even need much watering. Planted copiously in a pot, sea thrift looks brilliant from day one and sustains its appeal all year round.

Planting at high density is also our secret when it comes to Hakonechloa macra (Japanese Forest Grass). This gloriously lush grass has wonderful bright green foliage and a fantastic cascading habit. Planting en masse in a pot we get a lovely domed effect of foliage with a soft look that moves nicely in wind.

In autumn it turns a vivid orangey yellow then boasts a light yellow throughout winter. This is a great choice when we need a specimen to thrive both in sunlight and shade.

I want our clients’ plants to look just wonderful throughout the year, and one of my favourites for this is Japanese Maple. Selecting specimens that look interesting not just when they are in flower or flaunting their autumnal colours is where our experience and vast knowledge of thousands of species come into play.

The Japanese Maple has a lovely green leaf, attractive autumn show and intricate architectural stems which provide real beauty even though it has no leaves for five months of the year.

A word about watering … How often to water a plant is often a puzzle for our clients but planting in pots can help with this conundrum. The bigger the pot, the easier to manage watering as the soil dries out less quickly. We use clever pouches that are soaked in water then expand. As the plant starts to dry the roots seek out the pouches to draw water in between sessions with the garden hose or watering can. In some cases this can reduce the need to water to once a week.

It’s our years of expertise that mean we can do amazing things.

Call us today to find out more. Talk to us about how we can help create an amazing space for you.

Call us on 0207 305 7183 or email at enquire@alasteranderson.com.