Green-fingered Taunton homeowners enjoyed an illustrated talk about container gardening at an independent-living community to welcome in the new spring season.

Alan Down, who owned and ran a successful garden centre for 35 years, chatted to the homeowners at Platinum Skies’ Quantock House community, based in Paul Street in the town centre.

He gave the event’s attendees a host of tips for the upcoming spring season, as well as talking through some of his top recommendations for helping plants to thrive in pots.

Alan’s top tips included ‘lasagne planting’ which involves planting layers of bulbs, in a similar style to creating the popular pasta dish, with the earlier-flowering bulbs at the top, to extend the time that a pot will contain a host of colour.

He also advised watering plants at the start and end of the day when water is less likely to evaporate off plants, as well as focusing on watering the roots of a plant rather than the leaves which wastes water.

Somerset County Gazette: Hoticulture expert Alan Down visited the Platinum Skies retirement village to talk to residents.

Next month, Jane Moore, who has been a guest presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World and has previously won a silver medal for a small garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, will be speaking about planting for butterflies on Thursday, April 14, at 11am at Platinum Skies’ Taunton community.

Booking in advance is essential for the talk which has limited places available.

Laura Warwick, community director at Platinum Skies, said: “We had a fantastic turn out for this event which just shows how popular gardening, plants and growing your own food is with our homeowners.

“Our community managers for Quantock House are now looking forward to hearing how they put all of Alan’s advice into action to get their balconies and gardens filled with colour for the warmer spring and summer months.”

Each Platinum Skies community has dedicated onsite community managers who help to organise fun activities such as wine tasting workshops, yoga, coffee mornings, quizzes, and crafts, as well as providing practical and emotional support to the community’s homeowners. Communal spaces within Quantock House include an activity room, treatment room, homeowners’ lounge, bar, bistro, guest suite, and garden area.

Facilities within each of the low-maintenance apartments include easy to use kitchens with energy saving appliances, bathrooms with step-free showers and automatic lighting, extra-wide walkways for wheelchair access, and secure underground parking.

New homes in Taunton are available to purchase from £105,000 with the Platinum Skies flexible shared ownership option.

To book an appointment to view a home in Quantock House, go to Platinumskies.co.uk or call the Platinum Skies team on 01202 040996.