When the summer baskets have had their moment, it can feel a shame to leave the front of the house looking bare until spring. The good news is that a winter basket or planted pot can be just as inviting. It may be a little quieter than a summer display, but that's part of its charm. Think colourful leaves, a few cheerful flowers, something to trail over the edge and perhaps a surprise waiting beneath the compost for spring.

Start with shape and colour

For a hanging basket, we like to begin with a plant that gives the arrangement some shape. A small Carex adds a soft, grassy centre, while ivy can tumble over the sides. Then bring in winter pansies or violas for colour. They may take a break in the coldest weather and flower again when conditions are milder, so don't be too quick to give up on them. Primroses and polyanthus are lovely for that fresh, hopeful look as winter moves towards spring. Small-flowered cyclamen bring another shape altogether, with their swept-back petals and beautifully marked leaves. Check the variety's hardiness when choosing cyclamen for an exposed position; some are happier with a little shelter. You don't need to put every colour into one basket. A mix of golden Carex, deep plum heuchera, yellow violas and a little ivy can look wonderfully warm. Or try white cyclamen, pale primroses and green foliage for something softer.

Make a pot worth coming home to

A larger pot gives you room to play with height. Try a compact skimmia as the centrepiece, then surround it with heuchera, violas or primroses. Skimmia's neat evergreen leaves and winter buds give the display plenty to look at even when there aren't many flowers open. A hellebore can also make a lovely winter focal point. Plant it with some trailing ivy and a few smaller companions, and you have a pot that looks attractive without needing to be packed full. Later, you can give the hellebore a place in the garden if it has outgrown its container. For a bright welcome beside the front door, consider two pots together rather than trying to squeeze everything into one. They don't have to match exactly; repeating one colour or one type of foliage is often enough to make them feel like a pair.

A little spring surprise

When you plant your basket or pot in autumn, you can tuck in small spring bulbs too. Crocuses, dwarf irises or grape hyacinths can appear among the winter planting when the days begin to lengthen. Keep the bulb packet's planting depth in mind and choose a container deep enough to give them room. It's a lovely feeling to look at a pot you've enjoyed all winter and find something new popping up in February or March.

Keeping everything happy

Winter displays usually grow more slowly than summer baskets, so they don't need quite the same attention. They still need a check now and then, though. Feel the compost before watering; rain doesn't always reach a basket tucked under a porch, while a pot left standing in water can become soggy. Make sure containers drain freely, and lift pots onto feet if their drainage holes are being blocked. Pick off tired flowers and yellowing leaves to keep the display looking fresh. If a severe spell is forecast, moving a planted pot closer to a sheltered wall can help protect the plants and their roots. And before hanging a basket, check that its bracket is sound: wet compost makes it heavier than you might expect!

Whether you fancy a bright basket, a calm green and white pot, or a pair of cheerful planters by the door, come and have a wander at Gardening World Limited in Newington. We'll help you choose plants that look lovely together and suit the spot you have in mind.

A little reminder before you visit

If you're 65 or over, our Seniors offer gives you 10% off plant purchases from Monday to Friday. And if you've earned a Gardening World Plant Discount Card, remember to bring it with you: your card gives you 10% off plant purchases every day of the week.