January almost certainly brings chill winds and perhaps snow. Generally, nearly all self-respecting gardeners are snuggled up indoors, just venturing down the garden path to tie in the odd wind-blown climber or possibly to plant a bush received as a Christmas gift. But this month is also the time, traditionally, for new beginnings, and a container garden, whether it consists of a single planter or an extensive patio, will probably benefit from a change. The planters themselves are arguably the most important component and may, well be the most costly: make use of this month to think about what could be added to your collection. Far less costly are the seed catalogues, out in abundance now. There's a good reason for making your seed choice early -and not only because the catalogues make such good, escapist fireside reading. Winter can lull gardeners into a mistaken sense of security, and the early spring sowing times seem to come and go faster than the speed of light. Don't miss the chance to raise nasturtiums, marigolds and sweet peas from seed - summer would be the poorer without them.
If your planters are already in good shape, you should be enjoying the permanent foliage of ivies, box and bay, with yuccas and conifers like Chamaecyparis lawsoniana , Ellwoods Pillar, adding bold, structural outlines. These plants are just unaffected by frost and snow and, in fact a layer of either actually enhances their shape and gives them an even sharper visual dimension. For colour, make a note to plant up some winter pansies for next year. If all else fails, the ever-present snowdrop will brighten the gloomiest winter day.
January is also the time for ordering seeds and plantlets. Ordering from seed catalogues is the easiest and most efficient way to buy seeds for spring sowing. Increasingly nurseries are gearing their catalogues to the planter gardener and including special collections for patio planters, window boxes and hanging baskets. A comparatively new development is the range of seedlings, rooted cuttings and, plug plants' now on offer, all of which save you the trouble of actually sowing the seed yourself. Seeds you order now are going to be dispatched right away, although seedlings and plantlets may not be sent out until early or mid-spring.
January is a good time to take stock of your planters, window boxes and hanging baskets to determine if they meet your needs. A contained garden can be expensive to plan from scratch, so begin early and spread the cost over a number of months. At the end of the day, the choice of planters is a matter of personal choice; however there are various elements that need to be taken into consideration.
First, consider the building materials of the house, walls and paved areas. Bright colours and geometric forms can look incongruous against mellow stone; equally, elaborately decorated urns appear out of place against clean-cut, contemporary architectural lines. Next, think about the style of garden you want to achieve - Mediterranean, cottage, oriental, formal - each will need a combination of planters.
Finally, but certainly not as an afterthought, consider your plants themselves. Every plant has an ideal planter size and form, and placing both together is something that starts with trial and error but becomes second nature with experience. As a place to begin; the minimum depth of soil for even the tiniest plant (excluding alpines, which flourish in shallow soil) is 20cm and your collection of planters should range upwards from this. Remember that plants will move up through the planter sizes as they grow from year to year. Once plants are at their full size, give them the most generous-sized planters you are able to afford. The more compost a container can hold, the more water and nutrients are available to the plant. Too small a planter will lead to plants that dry out rapidly and are starved deprived food they require.