Containers are excellent for providing impact in a garden, and they can be used to grow almost any type of plant. However, you must decide carefully where you want to position them BEFORE you plant them up; once they're full of compost and plants, they will be heavy and awkward to move. Hot patios will require sun loving, drought tolerant plants such as geraniums (Pelargoniums), whilst cool, shady spots will need shade tolerant subjects which need more moisture around their roots to thrive.

Materials

Inexpensive materials include plastic and fibreglass, which if not chosen carefully may look cheap and unattractive, or wooden half barrels, which are good value but heavy. Terracotta costs more, but is a good decorative option, whilst stone, reconstituted stone or lead look impressive but can be very expensive.

Drainage

Make sure that your container has drainage holes in the base or at the bottom of the sides; some plastic containers may need to be drilled through. Cover the holes with a 7-10 cm deep layer of stones or crocks, then cover this layer with a piece of sacking, Plantex membrane, or even a J cloth. This will allow water to filter through but will stop your compost from being washed away.

Compost

Using the pot of your largest plant, check the amount of compost you need to add to the container. Hold the pot inside the container, and add compost to the new container so that the compost surface of the plant pot finishes about 3 cm below the container rim. Ease the plant out of its pot and place it in position.

Add more compost to achieve the correct planting height of smaller plants, so that they are level with the first, largest plant. This will ensure that the smaller plants do not sink or have their roots dangling in space. Ease plants out of their pots keeping their rootballs intact, and place them in the container. Use handfuls of compost to fill in the spaces between the roots of each plant, firming them in as you go.

Fertilizer

Add some slow-release fertilizer pellets to the compost; the pellets should be in the spaces between the plants and not in contact with the roots.

Watering

Water the planted container well, using the rose attachment on your watering can so that the top layer of compost does not wash away from the roots of the plants. Apply a layer of pebbles or gravel to cover the top of the compost to retain moisture around the plants; this will stop the top of the compost from forming a crust which will shed water from it. Water the container regularly - daily in hot dry weather.