Expert urges gardeners to do one simple task now to refresh container plants – to keep them 'looking their best' in autumn
Are your container plants looking a little straggly right now? Here's how to prepare them for the new season
Summer blooms may be fading, but there's still plenty of beauty to be found in our gardens throughout autumn. To make your plot feel instantly more appealing, follow this expert advice to help revive your heat-stricken container plants.
Patio container plants are a great way to add flowers and flora to your garden no matter how much space you have – whether you can build flower beds or not. They're also brilliant for all-year-round colour and interest as you can easily replace the plants seasonally, and move them indoors to your greenhouse when the frosts arrive.
BBC Gardeners' World presenter Adam Frost has shared his tips to give container plants a simple autumnal refresh to keep them looking their best before winter weather arrives.
Whether you've got some plants that provide autumn colour or have invested in some of the best trees for pots. Summer heat and hosepipe bans have taken a toll on our container plants; it's therefore no surprise the pots aren't looking their best.
"After a hot summer, containers can start to look a little tired, but a quick tidy-up now can keep them looking their best right into Autumn," says Adam.
"Remove any dead or dying leaves and keep deadheading to encourage more flowers. Clear away any spent flower heads and get rid of any straggly growth," he instructs.
"Just a few minutes can make all the difference," Adam points out.
And while you will need to protect your container plants from frost once it arrives, the wet weather also affects the plants. It's recommended that you lift your pots and add feet to them; this will help improve drainage when the rain comes and provide a constant water supply to your plants, whether they like it or not. These terracotta feet from B&Q are only £4 and are perfect for the job.
As long as you keep an eye on your autumn potted plants and avoid any container gardening mistakes, they should stay happy and thriving through the season.
Don't make an autumn gardening mistake and neglect your garden once the nice weather leaves. You can do plenty to keep your space looking its best and growing to its full potential.
