Urban living often means that outside space is limited, so planting in containers can sometimes be the best way to introduce colour, movement and fragrance to a small area. Cultivating plants in tubs and troughs can be a breeze, provided you take the time to get the basics right from the start. Container plants will always be dependent on the gardener to a certain degree, but choose the right pots, plants and compost and, with just a tiny bit of time and TLC, your moveable garden should give maximum return for minimum effort. It's a case of finding feisty plants that will (almost) look after themselves and knowing the tips and tricks to give you the kind of green fingers Percy Thrower would be proud of.