Plant some seasonal colour

What to do this week

• Plants that need to be dug up and transplanted will move safely from now on; trees and large shrubs will require good staking

• Check your stakes and ties and secure greenhouse doors and vents

• There’s still time to plant bulbs

I suppose it was all the good weather this autumn, but we haven’t seasonally adjusted yet and I’ve just realised it’s only a few weeks to Christmas.

The begonias and geraniums in my patio pots have still some flower on them, but I’ll really have to move on this weekend and plant some seasonal colour.

With smaller containers, I tend to replace everything, even the compost. Larger containers can have a centrepiece that’s left in the pot until it outgrows the container, and then it can be successfully transferred to the garden.

When choosing a plant as a centrepiece, it is important to choose one suitable for the size of the pot and suitable for the location.

There are plants for sun and shade and some plants don’t like an exposed position.

Ideally, the plant should be slow growing so it won’t outgrow the pot too quickly, and it must be able to withstand a little neglect from time to time.

And after all that, it has to be the shape and colour you want.

All that sounds difficult but the following are my top performers.

1. Ilex crenata (Buxus alternative), clipped into cones or balls, are popular. They always look well, are easy to grow and are low maintenance.

2. Phormium Yellow wave is at the opposite end of the spectrum from a shape point of view; this spiky grass-like plant is happy in a container for many years.

3. Viburnum Tinus ‘Eve Price’ is a wonderful evergreen winter flowering plant and will brighten up any front door.

4. Fatsia Japonica, with its large tropical looking leaves, is quite hardy and thrives in a shady location that gets little or no sun, even under a canopy.

5. Camellias also fit into this shade-loving category and flower for months in early spring.

6. Skimmia – the flowering or berry varieties – are perfect for pots and containers, and it’s now their season.

7. Sarcoccoca: I will guarantee you that this little plant will surprise you. It looks quite ordinary but when it flowers in January, February and March, the scent is magnificent.

8. Acer Sangokaku (Coral Bark Maple) has now lost all its beautiful autumn foliage and is revealing the coral red bark. Under-plant with silver cineraria and red berries, and you will have a winter stunner.

By the way any of the above would make a welcome Christmas Gift.