Gardens will be colourful all winter if you plant 1 flower now

Many people's gardens are full of colour and vibrance throughout the spring and summertime, but in the winter, they can often lose that excitement, as many plants become dormant or lose their foliage.

However, that doesn't have to be the case, as there are a number of plants that do well during the colder months. One flower in particular that makes a cheerful display is the ultimate flower to give your garden the much-needed boost it requires during the winter, and the best thing about this flower is that you can grow it right away, as you can sow or plant it from as early as May.

According to Gardeners' World, pansies, which are low-growing bush perennials, offer a "cheerful display of colour when little else is in flower". Pansies are usually grown as annual bedding plants, and while most cultivars flower in spring, there are some that have been bred to bloom in the winter.

There are multiple of varieties to grow. Some that the gardening website mentioned includes, Adonis', Freefall Lavender and Cat's Whiskers', which all showcase unique leaf shapes and colours and are perfect for transforming outdoor spaces in the winter.

However, to make the most out of the gorgeous flowers, Gardeners' World says gardeners should take the time to sow or plant them now.

It said: "Pansies can be grown from seed. Sow the seed under cover in February to April to bloom from late spring to autumn. To grow pansies for autumn and winter flowering, sow seed from May to July."

Pansies are very versatile flowers and can, therefore, be grown in all types of pots and containers. They can either be massed in a pot alone or combined with other plants. Gardeners can also use them to "underplant large shrubs," and they perform best in full to partial shade.

When it comes to placing them in borders, pansies make incredible displays on their own, but also mix just as well with other bedding plants. They are also your go-to flowers when you need to fill any bare patches.

Pansies go "perfect" with spring bulbs such as tulips, "as the bulbs grow up through and between the flowering pansies," the website explained.

Pansies that are planted now should be spaced 15cm apart for bush varieties, and 20-25cm for trailing varieties. Gardeners should ensure they use a good quality multi-purpose potting compost for planting pansies in pots, while in borders, add some well-rotted garden compost or planting compost first to improve the soil.