How to create a container garden for wildlife

Pots and containers are a great way of introducing wildlife features onto patios, or outside the front door. They are also perfect for small gardens or spaces like window ledges or roofs. Herbs, in particular, make good container plants and attract lots of wildlife.

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Sow your own mini wildflower meadow in a windowbox, line a pot with plastic to make a potted pond or use walls to create vertical herb displays.

Upcycle something into a plant pot

You can use anything you like for planting! How about...

Watering cans
Chimney pots
Old kettles
Holey boots
Metal pails and buckets
Paint tins
Pans and colanders
Old sinks - or even bathtubs!

Make a hanging basket

Line the container or basket with an old woolly jumper cut to size, or choose a solid basket.
Fill with peat-free compost.
Start planting! Put in a tall, central plant followed by smaller plants around it, and trailing plants through the sides. Here are some ideas:

Cool blues: aubrieta, lobelia, wild pansy, nepeta

Hot reds: marigolds, fuchsia

Neutral whites: sweet alyssum, erigeron, ox-eye daisy

Tall central plant: knapweed, scabious, lavender, snapdragon, pot marigold

Herb smellies/eatables: verbena, tomatoes, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, strawberry, dwarf lavender

Trailers: ivy, nasturtium, honeysuckle, sweet Pea, lobelia ’pendula’
Continue building up plants and compost until about 5 cm from the top.
Feed once a week and water frequently in summer.

Make a meadow pot

Long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) on cornflower at Bonhurst Farm, Surrey Wildlife Trust

If needed, make drainage holes in your container, drill 0.5-1cm diameter holes into the bottom of the pot about 15cm apart.
Cover with rocks.
Half fill with peat-free compost.
Start planting! How about:

Cool blues: cornflower, wild pansy

Hot reds: poppy, corncockle, pheasant’s eye

Soft yellows: corn marigold, corn buttercup
Continue building up plants and compost until about 5cm from the top.
Feed once a week and water frequently in summer.
Sow each year.

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Garden bumblebee by Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

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