Hanging baskets have certainly become more popular over the last few years. Not only with domestic houses but especially so with many public houses, some of which now appear to be completely covered with them, aided no doubt, by modern irrigation systems. So, if you don’t already do your own baskets, why not have a go now?
Before you start though, consider where you can sensibly hang a basket. Hanging baskets are indeed, very versatile. They can be used to highlight features, or camouflage or cloak less desirable features. Baskets placed in full sun can produce an abundance of flower but will dry out quickly and, hence, require more watering. Baskets placed in the shade can still provide colour and interest, and generally, will require less watering. Take account of the fact that by mid-summer, the expansion of growth could be up to double the basket’s normal width. It could also by this time, weigh several kilos when fully watered and, therefore, a solid fabric is essential to enable a secure fixing of the supporting bracket.
Optimum viewing height at which a hanging basket should be placed is about six foot from ground level. Consideration, of course, has to be given to people walking into it and banging their head! To prevent passers-by knocking their head or shoulders, place a plant container underneath but not where water from the basket will drip on to the plants. Avoid placing a basket too high, as it will be more difficult to water. If it is too high, a stepladder may be needed to undertake the watering and this may create an unnecessary hazard, as will placing a basket too near the corner of a building; and it will also look ill-placed and be buffeted by the wind.
Try a couple of baskets each side of a doorway, but take care to place them where they will not be knocked. Each side of a large window is also a good position but ensure that the cascading foliage will cut across the windows vertical edges, or the effect will look unplanned and fragmented. Baskets can cheer-up the carport but be mindful of head-height danger, particularly when it is dark. Or there’s that bland wall, the summerhouse, or the privy at the end of the garden! The options are almost endless.
Now we can consider the plants. There are numerous combinations, both in colour and the type of plants, which can be used to create real eye-catchers, or perhaps, you may prefer a more subtle and quieter effect.
If you are really keen, this is the time of year to start sowing seeds to get the plants for hanging baskets off to a flying start. Or, you can wait until later when most can be purchased as ready-to-plant ‘plugs’. These will need to be ‘grown on’ until late April or early May when they will be large enough to plant up. If you do not have facilities for either of these two options, plants mature enough for direct planting can be obtained from garden centres and plant nurseries, or better still, a friend!
| Main Hanging Container | Suggested Plants |
| A 14" or 16" wire basket | 3x Begonias (1 each red, orange and yellow) |
| Either a liner, or sphagnum moss | 3x Geraniums - upright (red/orange) |
| Green or black plastic sheet | 3x Nasturtiums*- bush (mixed reds/yellows) or, instead of nasturtiums, try Bidens (yellow) |
| A 5" or 6" saucer | 12x Lobelia - trailing (red) |
| Approx 7-8 litres multi-purpose compost | |
| 2ozs (50grm) feed and Water Retaining Crystals |
Place the basket on a large flowerpot or bucket and position a liner or a layer of sphagnum moss approximately 1½" (38mm) thick on the inside. If using moss, cut some plastic sheet to shape. Cut some small drainage slots in the base area of the sheet, and lay as an inner layer over the moss to stop the compost coming through. Place a 5" or 6" saucer in the bottom. This will act as a small reservoir and help keep the compost moist.
Mix the compost, adding some water retaining crystals (Supergel) and feed (Pellted Chicken Manure is supposedly very good), then fill the basket to about a third.
Position 6 trailing plants equally around the basket. Carefully push the roots through the prepared slits in the liner, or cut some holes through the moss and plastic if used. Then fill the second third and repeat with another 6 trailing plants, ensuring they are staggered relative to the lower ring of plants.
Finally, fill the basket almost to the top with compost and plant your choice of the more upright plants, gently firming the compost between and around the plants. Fill any holes and leave the compost about 1" (25mm) below the top of the basket to allow space for watering. Give the basket a gentle, but thorough watering, being careful not to displace the compost thereby exposing the roots of the plants.
If possible, and certainly if the plants are still immature, leave the basket hanging in a cool frost-free greenhouse or conservatory for a week or two before putting outside, not forgetting to water as needed. Plants must be 'hardened-off' before finally hanging your basket outside. Be mindful of frosts however; in this part of the country the last frost can be as late as mid-June. Plants may gain some protection from light frosts by draping some fleece over and around the basket.
Once the basket is positioned outside remember to water daily, preferably in the evening when the lack of sunshine will not cause so much evaporation. Do not use a rose on a watering can or hose, as the water may simply slide off the leaves and not soak the compost at all. Avoid the full sun when watering because sunshine on globules of water on petals and leaves can scorch and disfigure them. If the basket is placed in full sun or in a wind flow, you may need to water in the morning and again in the evening. Never allow the compost in a basket to completely dry-out, as it will be very difficult to rehydrate.
Some four weeks after planting, start feeding the plants on a weekly basis with 'Miracle-Gro' or similar. Chempak Number 3, followed by Chempak Number 4, from mid summer, are good alternatives. In just a few weeks from planting up, your baskets will be a riot of colour!
All of the above plants can be started from seed except the begonias, which are normally bought as tubers. The list of plants given is just one suggestion for a basket to be placed in a sunny position. There are countless other variations which can be achieved. For example use just one type of plant and/or colour i.e. Surfinia petunias, Fuchsias, Begonias and Impatiens (Busy Lizzies). If you have a shaded place or area where you would like to add some colour and interest, try a combination of Zonal pelargonium 'Glacis', Fuchsia 'Holly's Beauty', Sutera cordata 'Snowflake', Helichrysum petiolare 'Limelight', Mimulus, Begonia semperflorens 'White Devil' and Lobelia erinus 'Lilac Fountain'.
There are now varieties of tomatoes and strawberry plants, which can be successfully grown in hanging baskets. The combinations are endless.
If you would like to start with something a bit smaller and simpler than a 16" wire basket, the Trading Hut also has a stock of 11" plastic hanging baskets, with formed plant holes and a small water reservoir.
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