How to group pots - plus practical tips for fabulous container planting

Find out how to group pots to create a fabulously colourful 'border', with tips from pot planting supremo Dan Cooper of Dan Cooper Garden (www.dancoopergarden.com/).
00:00 Welcome
00:12 Dan Cooper's Frustrated Gardener blog: www.dancoopergarden.com/
00:44 When to start planning pots of bulbs
01:01 How many plants do you need in a small space?
01:22 Duplicate varieties of plants - have 2 or 4 pots of the same type of plant
01:57 Do you plant in plastic pots first or directly into the ornamental pots
02:48 What kind of compost do you use for planting pots?
03:19 Use a slow release feed granule with the compost
04:19 How do you water pots when you have so many?
05:50 When do you change the display from spring to summer?
06:34 Do you start dahlias off in plastic pots, then transfer them later?
07:12 How to group pots
08:57 Plant one type of plant per pot
09:30 Plant bulbs (and other plants) densely in pots
10:10 Do you need 'pot feet'?
10:30 Are 'crocks' necessary? (Crocks are broken pottery used at the bottom of pots to improve drainage)
11.16 How do you get to the back of a pot display to reach plants?
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[@AshWP]

Alexandra, you have an incredible gift for asking the right questions. You are perhaps one of my most tuned to educators :-). Great concept and interview. Absolutely loved Dan’s garden, process and just his genuine joy with his plants! One question - Curious to know what the pink flowered plant in the back row is. It’s gorgeous. Thank you Alexandra and Dan!

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Well said!

[@patdelaney191]

I second that. Also was wondering what the tall pinkylavender coloured plants were. Thank you.

[@lorraineyoung102]

Could the plant be a lavatera? I can't get a really close look but it reminds me of one I had years ago!

[@nspector]

"Alexandra, you have an incredible gift for asking the right questions." So true. And such a gift for us.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much, I will ask Dan and hope to get back to you.

[@oas1224]

What a wonderful interview, so much inspiration and tips !! Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@debiwaleski1797]

That was a wonderful interview and he was so generous with his information!

[@Wingate8000]

The timing of this video is perfect! I just started planning my summer pots this morning. Thanks so much.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shaunpaulwallace]

I'm a little late Emma. Got to do some repotting 😑😅🙏

[@elleg.2177]

I love this way of gardening, especially in a small garden like mine. The space is always changing and evolving and no mistakes are ever permanent, just a matter of moving pots around. Very rewarding! Thank you Alexandra! 💜

[@dougkelley2781]

I began using leftover coconut coire from hanging baskets that had gone rotty last year in the bottom of pots and it worked quite well. Sometimes hating to throw anything out is a good thing. Great segment! Thank you!

[@sweetpeanmolly]

Great idea! Thank you 😊

[@charlesprice925]

I use coffee filters in the bottom of my pots to keep the soil from sifting out and they keep the water from draining too quickly.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

interesting!

[@DalhiaSun]

I do too when I’m not too lazy to go all the way back into the house to the kitchen 😉

[@MissJensk1]

​@@DalhiaSun Why don't you take them outside with you to start with?

[@patsygood8548]

I keep coffee filters in my potting shed

[@rickwalker5203]

Wonderful presentation! I needed this video, now I’ll try to do this near our front entryway (North side) to bring in color and variety, thanks! Cleveland OH USA

[@juliabinford6500]

I appreciate container tips. I had no idea you could put that many bulbs in a pot.

[@dancoopergarden]

Cram them in! The more the merrier. The bulbs have almost enough energy stored in them to get them through one season so you can go for broke!

[@cathleensmith4717]

I love the wagging tail almost as much as the garden😍😍 The gull sounds are unraveling my knots,aahh

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Afternoon Alexandra, you looked so smart with the lovely warm cape/jacket and the colour blended well with the various flowers. Dan looks like a lot of fun, nothing seems to disturbs his peace. The plants are beautiful and very colourful and so well taken care of, no wonder he is so proud to share his garden and knowledge to help us along. A Keen gardener is like a keen baker, they are always gathering tips and recipes to make better presentations :) We were told daffodils only flower once you have to chuck them away but not Dan her keeps his for the following season, that was very interesting. There were many juicy bits that was shared along the way, thank you for a lovely inspiring video. Take care, be alert and kind regards.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@dancoopergarden]

Hello! With daffodils, feeding and watering after flowering will certainly help to build the bulbs back up to flowering size again. Do come and find me at frustratedgardener.com and @thefrustratedgardener for more ideas and inside info!

[@LifeIsMessyImLearningAsIGrow]

Your garden looks amazing! I can’t wait till to watch your updates to see how it grows. I’m a KZbin gardener too but I’m just learning as I grow. I am happy I found your channel it has so much to offer. I hope we can learn more from each other as we grow our gardens and our garden channels! Happy Planting!

[@agnespm4181]

I love Dan's garden. Great ideas and inspiration. A really good interview. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dancoopergarden]

Do come and see me at www.frustratedgardener.com for more of my garden exploits 😊

[@DalhiaSun]

I really enjoyed this video. His space is so very beautifully done and his jolly humor was really lovely to watch. 🙏 thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@irairod5160]

Oh, what a beautiful space! I grew up in the tropics, so while the plant selection is completely different, the lushness and riotous colors appeal to my senses.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

He has a tropical-inspired jungle theme in the summer, although it's actually a little less colourful (I don't think anything can be more colourful than tulips)

[@irairod5160]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden It must be scrumptious! Thank you for another inspiring video.

[@dancoopergarden]

Hello! I am so delighted that the colours reminded you of the tropics as that’s what I always try to achieve. We have bananas and gingers in the same space during the summer months.

[@irairod5160]

@@dancoopergarden You are so kind in replying. I imagine how beautiful the bananas and gingers must look in summer!

[@carolrose4784]

A beautiful Landscape of flowers. For the first time I planted my tulips in CB pots and found it extremely fun to move these around. I put landscape fabric in the bottom of my pots so I don’t lose any of the precious compost or soil.

[@kerryjean2223]

I'm a very avid waterer and yes I use pot feet, however, a double layer of bulbs is new to me... Food for thought. Thanks for continuing to bring us fantastic videos, wonderful tips, ideas and interesting Gardeners x 🧡💛🧡👏🙏😇🇦🇺

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

Hi! Two or three layers of bulbs works really well in a deep pot. Give it a try and see how the density of flowers improves your display.

[@dcookoo]

I love pots and containers around the door for decor, or if I’m growing a small shrub that I eventually want to put into the ground. I prefer plants in the ground as they’re able to look after themselves more with less watering and more nutrients.

[@TheGyreMadHatter]

I opened up YT this morning to look for this exact content and lo and behold! You just made this video! Finger to the pulse with your content, excellent timing. As always, great questions from you and well chosen knowledgeable experts presented in a good length.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@josephinebrevig8748]

Feast for the eyes. Again, just shows what you can do with a small space. Love it!

[@kevinwilkes5969]

Dan's blog is excellent. You can pick up so many tips.

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you Kevin. So happy to enjoy it!

[@glen4075]

Looks stunning Dan😊.

[@roberthamilton2334]

Alot of work with your garden Dan but then you have colour all the time. Interesting video

[@vlink4071]

What a delightful and interesting man. He is so creative with his garden.

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you so much!

[@philomenamiranda4803]

Thanks Alexandra for the useful Q's & A's

[@fionaseath3591]

Alexandra, what a great interview. Very interesting points covered, all thanks to your questions that we were all needing answered 😉. Keep up the great videos x

[@ThePinkfluf]

Alexandra. I just love your videos. 🥰🥰

[@daiseegray9110]

Alexandra, You always find the most interesting guest. You ask such great questions which helps us to retain the information. Fabulous information even if we do on a smaller scale. 🌸🐝

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@simrankashyap2839]

What great ideas fr all flors n pots.one can shift thm anywr.lovly.

[@philomenamiranda4803]

You are the best.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@user-rv7gd4fo6j]

Very nice, Alexandra. Thank you!

[@trafficface]

Dan's blog was an inspiration for me absolutely

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good to hear!

[@deano1018]

Thanks for another fantastic and informative video Alexandra. I have incorporated medium and large ceramic pots within my perennial borders for years. Some hold small azaleas and daphne, while others are constantly changing with bulbs, annuals or lilies. Great tips at the end from Dan on safety and avoiding injuries when moving pots. 🌺🌸🌼

[@lesleybruechner8132]

Great information. And Alexandra, you look lovely in your purple coat!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@alisonvanwyk4348]

My garden is largely in pots . Loved this episode.

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you very much Alison!

[@frankscales7295]

I got very interested in this type of gardening in the last few years . TY for another great Vid

[@dwoodbury]

I often put lava stones in the bottom of my larger pots which helps the bottom of the pots not get too swampy, while still allowing the roots to access the water that's collected in the saucer. Moss is a new idea I will try. What I like about using moss is it uses up some of the excess water that otherwise gets swampy in the base, and wouldn't allow as much soil to leak out into the saucer. ( I use saucers under my pots on my balconies and porch, but not on bare ground). I always know when my plant's roots are not taking in water, so in other words dead -- like a bare root rose that just isn't going to come out of dormancy -- because the soil retains too much moisture and starts to smell off; clues me that the roots are not drinking in the moisture. Thanks again, Alexandra, for another helpful video.

[@margaretmojica8190]

I gave up buying roses bare root. Around here, the bare root roses are packed in saw dust and wood chips and I do not have good luck getting them in the pot and growing. They also sell fruit trees bare root and I will not buy them that way. I did buy a peach tree that was semi-bare root, growing in a 4 x 4 x 9 inch long plastic pot and it has been giving me peaches for the last 5 years.

[@caroldixon3124]

I love your videos and my garden is steadily coming together. I live in a chocolate box village where villagers and tourists stop to admire my beautiful garden. I was a complete novice a few years ago and have made some very expensive mistakes in the past. You are my 'go to' place to give me inspiration and educate myself on becoming a gardener... I'm hooked.

[@aprilm9551]

Oh my goodness, Alexandra, such a great job on this! I'm going to echo other comments and say this is so useful, and well done. You do ask fabulous questions, bringing out excellent thoughts from your interviewees. And, many of those you're interviewing I've been reading / watching already, so this makes it extra fun and meaningful for me. For years I've been adoring the yummy pots of flowers by Dan Cooper & partner!!! So this is so special to have an interview with him. Thank you!!

[@dancoopergarden]

Thanks April. Glad to hear you’re a fan of the pots and perhaps there might be another interview coming up later in the year 😉

[@jilladcock5648]

What a wonderful video of tips for container planting, thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@texasgeeg5972]

Oh this was perfect timing. I just found pots that were in the garage and wanted to create this look at the front of our home. Thank you as usual for the wonderful content!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tracypatil8841]

I have learnt so much from you Alexandra, so helpful and your guests are really knowledgeable. Thank you😘

[@DeborahCaldwell77]

This is interesting He is very good and expresses well.

[@dancoopergarden]

Thank you - that’s kind of you to say Deborah.

[@GerryBraun]

Dan is so knowledgable and delightful

[@jeanneamato8278]

This was very useful and informative. You really know which question to ask.

[@kerryharrison3806]

I’m binge watching your videos as I wrenched my back lifting a pot and can’t get back out into the garden yet...oh the irony🙄. Great informative video as always, I’m desperate to get out and put these tips into practice, I’ve definitely been too stingy when planting bulbs in the past.

[@shaunpaulwallace]

Silly me. I've just realised why my compost is leaking out of my pots. I'm a newbee to this gardening thing. Thanks to Dan, thanks to both 👍🏻 🌹

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@hopsletscottage4320]

Beautiful garden, very colorful, really loving the tulips, thanks for sharing, as always your videos are very helpful

[@maryhairy1]

Beautiful garden

[@sunshineabc9437]

Thanks for good information….. the garden looks beautiful ☀️☀️☀️

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Pots have been an enigma to me. Thanks for the instruction.

[@finight5863]

It's elegant! This enjoyable scenes! Great effort!! I enjoyed this content. the video is great but its the ending that really stands out

[@missmurrydesign7115]

Delicious...

[@wjs5773]

Thank you for another great and timely interview.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lesliekendall5668]

Just stopped back in to say my most favorite interview was the man at Hever Castle. I wish someone would encourage him to have his own channel.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, Neil is brilliant on video, he does sometimes pop up on the Hever Castle channel. And I hope to interview him again some time.

[@lesliekendall5668]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Well, very good then. Next time you see Neil, tell him in private that he has an old Putitan woman in the US who's his number one fan and wishes he had his own YT channel. 😊

[@kerrilee9651]

Great interview.

[@efjproductions4326]

excellent piece. thank you.

[@pogsslammer2106]

Really appreciative of all of your content. Thanks so much!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you like them!

[@donaldauguston9740]

I love Dan and I'm so happy to know he has a KZbin site. I've just subscripted. Thank you so much for this really interesting and informative video. Dan is brilliant and cute as hell. DA

[@missprettyplants7217]

Great tips!! i love the versatility of pots and the various heights the bring instantly to a garden space.. I don’t purely garden with pots but I like to include them in my garden to add visual interest and levels and especially for non frost hardy plants like dahlias and caladiums in my zone .. thank you for sharing! 🪴

[@marysimonetti5243]

I have started using moss in my pots as well. Slows the drainage. Or screens & moss to keep critters out when they are sitting in a bed. That’s for the ideas and your time.

[@magicalprintmaker]

Very informative interview Alexandra. I’m surprised he doesn’t water daily in the summer. I’ll have to look into moisture retaining soil.

[@dancoopergarden]

Hi Michael. Because the pots are tightly packed together they shade one another. A surface layer of grit also helps retain moisture. We are not blessed with sun all day - if we were I am sure I would need to water more often.

[@oas1224]

Would love to see his summer display :)

[@monicadickens5887]

Love it! 🌸

[@PrincessDie187]

Wow!

[@brucegelman5582]

Thank you!

[@lisab.6818]

Alexandra, wonderful colors on you! What a great episode.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@gtthompson1469]

Really interesting interview with Dan. Using moss for the bottom of a pot is a good idea. It is nice to hear from someone who just plants one item in a pot - I don't like the trend for "lasagne planting" in pots, in my experience the profusion of leaves detracts from the display of flowers (crocus are the exception because of the timing and thin leaves).

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dancoopergarden]

I agree entirely! So happy you enjoyed the video.

[@helenachase5627]

More fantastic content. My Dad always potted up a number of containers to pop into spots in the garden where necessary.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Really good thing to do.

[@lauranoble2256]

I live in zone 6a with semi reliable snow cover. I am experimenting with planting tulips in pots to protect them from the abundant wildlife in our area. Last fall I planted Tulipa turkestanica in a pot, covered it with a larger pot and nestled it in against a brick wall. I now have a lovely pot full of little tulips! Next year I’ll try double layering a different tulip!

[@lesliekendall5668]

Covered a pot with a larger pot?

[@lauranoble2256]

@@lesliekendall5668 I inverted a larger pot over the smaller one containing the tulips. Both pots are plastic.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, I'm glad they came up.

[@lesliekendall5668]

Laura Noble. What a fantastic idea!

[@ruthcregan4584]

Aqualegia's in pots ... going for it! Great video thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@cambbrown6205]

Very interesting thank you

[@michaeljonesdougherty.209]

I love useing pots trough out my gardens. I uses them with a few annual& perennial. For hight. Or cluster them easy to water them or as the seasons change or things fade out i put a pot there for pop & like ceramic or glazed pops i try to stay away from. Cheap plastic pot & or use the non sun fade ones. Planting here in the states zone 7b Rehoboth beach delawere. Love all your videos 💚

[@zonabrown9241]

Beautiful display i use a lot of pots fortunately i live on the coast in Australia solider isn't a problem

[@margaretmojica8190]

This little visit is so inspiring. It is so beautiful. My in progress garden is 60 feet wide and only 25 feet from the house to the back fence. I have 5 fig trees, 2 guavas, 2 peaches, 1 apricot, and 1 kumquat tree all growing in 55 quart pots because I don't have enough space to put them all in the ground. I also have geraniums, ferns, and herbs growing in pots. It all looks like a nursery instead of a garden (one person asked if I was growing for a nursery). This really gives me ideas how to arrange my trees and potted flowers around the shrubs that are in the ground so it is all more pleasing to look at.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm glad to hear it's helpful, thank you.

[@paularoberts2129]

Lovely video and so interesting I’ve picked up a few tips there thank you so much xx🌸💕🌸💕

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@paularoberts2129]

🌸💕🌸💕

[@francineh.7825]

So many beautiful pots!! I have a garden but also have lots of deer pressure so will be planting lots of pots this year on my decks so the deer can't eat my plants this year.

[@MissJensk1]

Yep, I love watering, can't understand why some people describe it as a chore.

[@nspector]

Wonderful. : )

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elleg.2177]

…great tips too! 🪴

[@lindaanderson1016]

I have pots here in South Florida under a tree in dappled light that become shadier in summer. The tree protects them from an occasional cold wind in winter. I must water about 5 times a week in winter and 9 times a week in winter. Our pots need drainage. Some annuals, like begonias, pentas, poinsettias go on to become perennials. They may become bushes. Pots allow us to not waste water nor fertilizer on the sand below our weedy grass. The rediculas practice of growing a perfect English type lawn polutes our valuable Fl waterways. Thanks for educating us.

[@DeborahCaldwell77]

Interesting!,,,!,

[@patricksymons1634]

Happy blessed Sunday to you

[@yvonnehall544]

Wow ..beautiful garden. Great tips so much in a short clip love this gardener basic no fancy fertilizer or anything basics water and composted soil. Certainly gona entertain myself with this new concept in my back garden. Just the right questions to satisfy our curiosity...Excellent job ...As always i believe you are the best ..Gold in a nutshell...always learn something new and also adopt some of the inspiration...Best of health God bless

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@derekallen8975]

All of your videos are so informative. Re. Crocks in bottom of pots, I use damp screwed up newspaper.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you.

[@karenhorstmann7130]

I bought a dolly for moving pots. I'm 73 and need to protect my back

[@dancoopergarden]

Very sensible Karen. I have a sack barrow for the heaviest moving jobs.

[@kimjapinga6550]

Thank you for this interesting interview. I love to plant tulips in pots for our deck. I don’t have to worry about squirrels and voles getting them over the winter. We have harsh winters in Michigan & I live near Lake Michigan, so we get plenty of snow. I leave the pots in the garage & water them in lightly until the soil freezes. I then start watering them again when the first shoots appear. I put them out after they start growing, typically in March. This year we had 3 hard freezes in March & April, so I covered them with frost cloth, which worked just fine. Unlike Dan, I do only 15 pots. 100 would be spectacular, but I’d need a bigger deck 😀.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you!

[@dancoopergarden]

We all need a bigger deck! My grandpa was from Michigan so I know how harsh your winters can be!

[@ivettesantana4319]

I have tons of pots like him and watering is the vain of my existance to the point next year am getting the water retaining beads because that is time i need to garden more lol

[@GardeningatDouentza]

Very interesting tip about layering the same type of bulb in the one pot so you have lots of the same flower at once. I am not keen on the layering of different bulbs in the one pot as you often end up with a too high foliage to flower ratio. I wonder what percentage of the bulbs are discarded after flowering and bought in new in autumn, probably all of the tulips. Thanks for a super video. I think it is the indication of a good video when a subject that isn't particularly appealing becomes very interesting. Many thanks.

[@suziebelle1959]

I really enjoyed this and was hoping they would talk about protecting the plants from slugs and snails

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's always a little easier in pots but I will ask Dan next time I see him.

[@dancoopergarden]

The only protection I use is a nightly pick and volley! On the whole, slugs and snails don’t trouble spring bulbs too much 🐌

[@rspruill1422]

Oh this is such perfect timing... i'm in New Jersey zone 7a. I have seven daylilies that are BEAST in my garden bed. I want to take them up and just keep them in pots... so I can control them from just spreading &randomly popping up in different places. THANK YOU so much for sharing this video!!!!!!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! I know what you mean about daylilies. I have them everywhere.

[@dancoopergarden]

Hello! I grow day lilies in pots and they are very happy. The only drawback is their relatively short flowering season. However, they are glorious when they do flower.

[@rspruill1422]

@@dancoopergarden Yes they are.... so sad. The flower stalks grow about 4 feet high - beautiful bright orange petals. I don't know if they will still grow as tall being confined in a pot... but that's the signs of a good gardener: always reevaluating and experimenting! Thanks again!!!!!

[@ivettesantana4319]

I am just amazed at how clean his apron is. I have to wash mine lol.

[@glow1815]

Gorgeous backyard! 🥰 I am planning to plant all of my plants in the pots under our big tree, only because i can't get my flowers deep enough planting in the ground the tree roots are everywhere 🙁 and i can't plant just any flowers i live in the desert it has to be drought and heat tolerant plants. I am planting mostly Lantana, daisy and few most desert flowers. My front yard yes all the plants are in the ground. I perferred in the ground for it to grow how i want it. I was planning to just put only Lantana and Daisy only, now i might change my mind after watching yoir video lol. Thank you for advice vey informative.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I hope it goes well

[@aluette1]

😍😍😍

[@saskiaemary6398]

I use old sponges at the bottom of my pots. Retains water and holds back the soil.

[@revvend]

"frustrated gardener" - lol, I can relate to that 🤣

[@marymary5494]

👌💕

[@WibblyWobbly]

I also have a couple of hundred of pots outside, and i agree about crocks on the bottom of pots, they arent nesesary, i dont use them at all. I prefer to keep as much soil as possible so that soil wouldnt dry out too quickly.

[@markremaley5217]

Love your videos. Can you do a video on design of annual flower beds. Looking for color combinations. Also a video on a border and how to plant a color theme, groupings and repetition.

[@lesliekendall5668]

Check out her playlists.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I've got a beautiful borders playlist but I'm also planning to do more on this subject so thank you for the suggestions. The playlist is here - it's not exactly what you were asking but I think you may find Create an Outstanding Border and How to Plan a Flower Border interesting: kzbin.info/aero/PLrZRLHPUbGmCjrR_RaI01_mGKMaTlx_gf

[@margaretmojica8190]

I use a potting mix for potted plants and use it straight from the bag. If I am planting in a clay pot, I put a 3 inch square of 1/4 inch wire mesh at the bottom with 1 small stone on top of the mesh. The mesh helps keep slugs from crawling into the pot and the stone helps keep the dirt from falling out. If I am using a large nursery pot with 4 big square holes in the sides, I will partly block each hole with a small stone.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting, thank you

[@lynnegraham3755]

Hi all. I'm a keen gardener and also love pots - however - can we all be conscious of water usage. I understand that grouping pots as densely as Dan does helps to reduce transpiration however this amount of watering (using highly treated drinking water) is not environmentally friendly. Maybe some tips for using grey water? We have had a really dry winter, the artesian wells aren't full, so if we have a hot, dry summer then be prepared for hosepipe bans......

[@dancoopergarden]

A good point Lynne. We use rainwater as often as possible and only water this garden with a can, not a hose. However, in one of the driest parts of England we do occasionally need to use tap water.