Cheerful Splashes of Colour for Patio Pots and The Garden..

What flowering plant can be used to bring instant colour to gardens, balconies and the patio in Autumn?

When the weather changes and the flowers of the Summer months fade you may want to plant up something that will give an instant splash of colour to the garden or patio area. There is a plant that is easily available. They will already be in flower when you buy them; so that you can select a tray of plants that you like the colours of and that will fit in with your existing colour themes.

These beautiful and delicate looking flowers are in fact quite hardy plants and are called winter flowering pansies. They come in a wide range of colours and shades. Some are rich jewel colours which goes well with the velvety texture of their petals. Other colours available range from an creamy-white to a deep purple shade that is almost black. Pansies have that characteristic ‘face’ set in the centre of their petals; and the colours of this may harmonise or contrast with the colours of the petals. There are over 254 different cultivars and that does not include Violas. Violas are worth using instead of pansies in some situations as they tend to flop less than pansies because they have smaller flowers and because the flowers are smaller they produce more of them. Pansies are more dramatic but violas have there own charm. Think about the colours you will prefer in winter when selecting your choice a bright splash of colour or softer delicate harmonising shades against a dark background of foliage, or next to a silver leafed plant.

Planting Pansies.

Winter Flowering Pansies are easy to plant up. When you take them home from the garden centre or store or when they are delivered, water them well and let soak up the water for an hour or so; it might be a good idea to stand them in a tray of water rather than soaking the petals as you water them. Meanwhile prepare your planting container by putting some drainage crocks in the bottom of the pot, use a frost proof container as it will be standing outside and add a layer of suitable planting compost into the base area. Or if you are planting them in the garden weed the area and if necessary add some compost to that area in the garden before planting them out.. Gently ease your pansies from the tray you bought them in; if slightly root-bound tease some of the roots free. Place them into the container adjusting the level of the compost in the base so that the plants sit at the correct height in relation to the container. Now top up the compost, firm gently around the plants, leave to settle, water when needed and dead-head (remove the flower heads when they have died) to encourage new flowers rather than seed setting. If your plants go 'lanky' gently trim back the straggly shoots. Your Winter Flowering Pansies should reward you with colourful blooms well into the Winter except at the coldest times.

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