Efforts are being made to get Gloucester city centre looking its best.
About £3,500 has been spent on wooden panels to re-clad the planters outside Debenhams in King's Square.
Flags of each nation to play at Kingsholm during the Rugby World Cup later this year are also flying proudly above the square.
It forms part of efforts by local authorities, Marketing Gloucester and city centre traders to freshen up the area before the King's Quarter development begins next year.
New wooden planters are being placed throughout the four gate streets to brighten up the area, and Bull Lane is also due for a spruce up.
The new features will also be used to welcome the thousands of visitors due to descend on Gloucester when the Rugby World Cup kicks off in September.
Traders in the city have reacted well to their new-look city centre.
Ivan Taylor, chairman of Westgate Traders Association, said: "I think this is a good move in the right direction. This will give the city a spring feeling."
Peppers Cafe are also going to 'adopt' Bull Lane by repainting the street's concrete posts and placing geraniums in its planter.
Owner of Peppers Cafe, Ann Wooldridge, said: "We're not spending much money but hopefully we can build some pride in the city, not just for one event."
Trees in three of Gloucester's gate streets are also being illuminated at night in a scheme by Marketing Gloucester.
Marketing Gloucester is also planning to hoist more flags in the city centre before the Rugby World Cup arrives.
Jason Smith, chief executive of Marketing Gloucester, said: "With our big year in Gloucester this year we wanted to represent each of the countries coming to visit us in the autumn. We want to improve all the different areas of the city so visitors can see Gloucester in its best light."
Leader of Gloucester City Council, Paul James, said: "We wanted to make sure Kings Square looks its best for the period up until the redevelopment takes place. This will create an impression of how it will look when the bigger works take place."
Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council said: "Not only do the planters look good but they are functional as well – we have moved existing ones to give additional protection to bollards previously damaged and added some new ones at key locations including the shared space at Kimbrose."
