Alan Titchmarsh has shared his simple tip for filling a garden with colour without much effort or expense. He recalls using annual flowers when he first got married because he “didn't have much money.”
Annual seeds: a budget-friendly solution
In his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh video, he explained that annual flowers are a “brilliant way” to add colour “for very little cost.” He invested in packets of marigold seeds and sowed them in the soil of his tiny garden. “It cost me next to nothing,” he said, adding that he had saved 10p a week with the butcher to afford a Christmas joint.
Since then, Alan has had a “soft spot” for annual flower seeds. He now sows his annual seeds in March in a greenhouse, ready for summer bloom. Many of his annuals are tender to frost, but he also uses Calendula, which is hardier and can be sown directly into the ground.
Instant colour on a budget
Alan noted that annuals can be bought as plants during summer if you missed spring sowing. “They will give you instant colour among your perennials and shrubs in your existing borders,” he said. “They are good gap fillers at very little cost.”
In the caption of his video, Alan wrote: “Annual flowers are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to fill your garden with vibrant colour.” He added that they are perfect for filling gaps in established borders, providing instant impact without the expense of larger plants.
