At Coolings we know our plants because we grow our plants!  We have our own on-site nursery and 100 years’ experience in the business of bringing colour into our customers’ lives.  In a busy world, gardens are a place where we can relax and express creativity through our choice and use of plants.   Even people living in flats or sheltered accommodation can still plant and take enjoyment from containers and window boxes.

It is always a pleasure to talk to customers and see pictures of the successes they have had using Coolings plants.  We regularly learn something new ourselves from this exchange of ideas, which is indeed part of the joy of our work.

Experimenting with seasonal plants is fun!  However, we recognise that a lot of people appreciate a little bit of guidance with their choice.  When planting containers and hanging baskets, there is a proven formula for success: “Thriller, Filler, Spiller”.

“Thriller”
This provides the height, focus and ‘wow’ in the middle or back of the planter.  There is a wide choice!  Upright fuchsias, non-stop begonias, arctotis, marguerites, nicotiana, euryops, cosmos, osteospermums, regal pelargoniums, geraniums, new guinea impatiens, salvias, coleus, gaura.  Cordylines also make great centrepieces with its extravagant fountain of foliage.

“Filler”
These are the flowers and foliage around the “Thriller” that are used to fill out the container with colour and interest.  Begonias, petunias, dianthus, dwarf dahlia, ageratum, bush lobelia, allysum, Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, to name but a few.  In practice some of the “Thrillers” such as geraniums in larger planters can be used as the “Fillers”.

“Spiller”
Plants that spill out and tumble down the side of the container. What a choice!  surfinias, mini-trailing petunias, trailing geraniums, trailing fuchsias, cascade lobelia, Dicondra ‘Silver Falls’, trailing begonia, helicrysum, bacopa, diascia, nemesia, scavola, brachyscome, verbena, bidens.  A truly amazing “Spiller” plant is Tradescantia ‘Purple Sabre’.

Much like making a cake, it is easy to follow a simple recipe for success using the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” principle.  Download our colourful cookbook of teamed planting ideas for pots and baskets.

Jon’s Top Tip for Success
Always use good quality compost as the growing media for your plants!  You get what you pay for and we recommend our own formula Coolings Professional Potting Compost. A million award winning plants home-produced in it by us on our nursery every year is hopefully recommendation enough!