Plant a Pastel Summer Container: Cool Colors for Hot Days

Skip the sizzling reds and oranges. Pastel containers bring serene, sophisticated color from early summer into autumn.

Star Performers

• Osteospermum: Blooms till frost; survives mild winters. Wide color range.
• Marguerite (Daisy): Cottage-garden charm, flowers into autumn. Less hardy than osteospermum.
• Petunia (Surfinia series, Fanfare 'Appleblossom'): Pale pinks, trailing habit—perfect for pot edges.
• Nicotiana: Grow from single-color seed for coordinated schemes. Buy robust plants in May/June.

Planting Recipe

1. Drainage: Crocks or polystyrene at base. Fill ⅓ with container compost, break lumps.
2. Arrangement: Taller plants (marguerite, osteospermum, nicotiana) at back. Petunias at front edge. Firm in with compost.
3. Care: Soak thoroughly. Water consistently (critical first 2 weeks). Feed fortnightly with liquid fertilizer. Deadhead religiously.

Bonus Pastels

• Geranium: Soft pinks (avoid gaudy reds). Buy plugs or take cuttings.
• Diascia: Long bloom; shear after first flush for repeat. Widely available.
• Nemesia: Cheap filler, flowers summer to Christmas. Pale apricot, lemon.

A pastel pot isn't just pretty—it's a calm oasis in high summer.