How to add autumn colour to your doorstep with a vibrant pot

It’s a perfectly natural response, when the days get shorter, and the temperatures begin to drop that we feel the need to retreat inside and almost draw a line under gardening for that year. The reality is that the change in temperature and light levels triggers a wonderful variety of plants to come into flower and start to produce vibrant autumn colours.

It’s true that we must be more creative when putting pots of plants together in the autumn. We can’t be so reliant on sheer flower power as we can in the summer; texture, coloured foliage and berries can all be mixed together to pack a punch at this time of year. What might feel like a big investment when you buy shrubs, ferns and grasses for your autumn containers actually turns out to be great value, as these plants aren’t thrown away and can be planted out into the garden in the spring and will happily grow for years to come.

Having a few colourful pots outside your door can lift your spirits to no end. With less intense sunlight in October and November, colours stand out; reds, oranges and yellows take on an almost luminous quality on those cloudy days of the autumn.

How to plant a container

1. Any container that will hold compost and allow surplus water to drain away will work well. Most of these autumn plants won’t grow a tremendous amount in the coming months, so their root run doesn’t have to be colossal. A container that holds the root balls of your plants with a little extra room for more compost will be sufficient.

2. If the drainage holes of your container are large and there is a danger that compost will seep out of them, place a few stones or pieces of broken terracotta over the hole to retain the compost within the pot. It is best to put feet or bricks underneath your containers to help that surplus water escape and prevent waterlogging.

3. Fill your container near the top with peat-free compost, adding a little extra grit to sharpen the drainage and maintain good air circulation around the roots.

4. If your container is against a wall, start your arrangement with a bit of height at the back, then cascade down towards the front of the pot with various plants that offer colour and texture. I was given some advice about containers many years ago, to think of the arrangement like a water cascade, starting at the back of the pot and then dropping down in level until you reach the front at which point you then cascade over the front of the pot with a trailing plant, in this case an ivy. Containers that are to be viewed 360 degrees should have their height in the centre and then cascade to the edges all around the pot.

5. Backfill around the root balls with compost, ensuring that you fill in any air gaps as these will prevent roots from growing in those airspaces.

6. A gravel mulch can offer a decorative finish and will help to suppress any weeds.

7. Water your container well and keep an eye on the moisture level of your compost. Inserting your finger into the compost is one of the best ways to detect moisture, if it feels dry, then water your container, but if you sense moisture, hold fire as you don’t want to create a cold, saturated volume of compost, as this will only lead to rot and root death.

How to maintain your pots

Keep your container moist but not waterlogged. Remember that although it may have rained, your container may still be dry and is worth checking a few times a week. More often than not, we place containers by the door, under a canopy or within the rain shadow of the building making those plants vulnerable to drying out during the wettest of weathers.

Plants will require very little feeding during the autumn and winter as their growth rate is low. When temperatures rise, in the early spring, a twice-monthly feed with a liquid seaweed-based fertiliser will maintain strong growth and overall health.

Bulbs such as daffodils and tulips can be added to your containers to offer extra colour during the spring. Plant any bulbs three times the height of the bulb for a good flowering performance next spring. Your autumn container can be dismantled when the vibrant foliage and flowers have faded, that could be well into the spring next year. Most of your plants can be planted out into the garden, making way for a spring or summer-based splash of colour by your front door.

The plants in Tom’s container

• Hedera helix “Green Ripple”

• Solanum “Winter Cherry”

• Heuchera “Sugar Baby”

• Pansy “Northern Lights Mix”

• Ornamental cabbage ‘“Fringed Rose”

Additional plants for October/autumnal interest

• Rosemary

• Thymes

• Sage

• Curry plant

• Houseleeks

• Oregano

• Pumpkins, winter squash and ornamental gourds