Pots of pleasure

Bulbs are so versatile you can grow them anywhere – even if you're gardening on a balcony. Our garden centre in Stocksfield can supply everything you need to pack containers with spring colour: follow our top tips for a dazzling display.

Layering: choose a deep container from the range in our garden centre and pack bulbs in by planting in layers. Put tall daffodils at the bottom, cover with compost, then tulips, followed by crocuses at the top.

Keeping it simple: cram the biggest container you can find with a really special tulip like 'Flaming Parrot' for a single blitz of brilliant colour with maximum impact.

Get the timing right: combine two bulbs with the same flowering time for twice the wow factor: try partnering dark blue hyacinths with pillarbox red early tulip Tulipa praestans.

Perfect partners: plant pretty violas at the feet of tulips for a partnership made in heaven: lilac-coloured violas with smokey purple tulips are stunning.

Dropping in: have pots of lilies or tulips ready to drop in to your borders just as they're about to flower for instant garden colour. Just lift them out again once they're finished.

Please ask the staff in our Stocksfield garden centre for more information and advice about growing bulbs in containers.