Nandina, skimmia and bronze sedge pot display

The display will look good from day one and will keep going right through the winter. Only the cornus will lose its leaves, but it will still have its lovely colourful stems.

The container will do well in sun or semi-shade, but the plants won’t thrive in the pot long term as some are quite rampant growers. Come spring, however, they can all be planted out into the garden, either together in the same combination or individually dotting into any gaps you have.

You Will Need

• Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana (3)
• Bronze sedge grass (2)
• Cornus alba ‘Baton Rouge’
• 45cm terracotta pot
• 1:1 mix of peat-free, multi-purpose compost and loam-based compost
• Peat-free ericaceous compost or Moorland Gold

Step 1

Mix loam-based compost with peat-free ericaceous compost, as the skimmia grows best in slightly acidic conditions. Add compost to halfway up the pot.

Step 2

Start planting up the container, placing the largest plants first− in this case the cornus − and build the design around that. Firm in the compost around the roots of the plants as you go. This is important as you don’t want to leave any air gaps that can dry out the plants’ roots.

Step 3

Place the pot in its final position and water the plants thoroughly. Make sure the compost is kept moist but not waterlogged, and avoid watering during frosty spells. Do not feed the plants until spring.