Hanging baskets
One of the most popular forms of container gardening, but judging by the amount of half dead hanging baskets you see it also has some problems.
Part of the problem is conflicting advice, and a wide choice of baskets some good and some useless.
Choosing a hanging basket.
First decide where you are going to hang your basket, this will influence your choice of basket and plants.
Sun or shade
Some plants are only happy in the sun others will grow in the shade.
How high will it be
This will influence your choice of plants and basket design.
When the basket is at eye level the plants for the top and sides are the most important.
A basket high enough up to walk underneath, wants plants that will trail, and may need planting through the sides and bottom.
The design of the basket is also important, some baskets can only be planted at the top, these are okay if you are hanging it low down or just above eye level.
For baskets that are high up you can choose a basket that can be planted through the sides or use plants that have strong trailing habits.
How much room have you got.
Hanging baskets can grow quite big, but you can choose compact plants or use a smaller basket if space is limited.
The size of the bracket or hook might be the limiting factor, a 14 inch basket can grow 2 – 3 foot wide, and will need a big pracket.
A 14 inch bracket is ideal for a 10-12 inch basket and may be too small for a 14″ basket.
The size of basket will help control the final size of the plants, so a 12″ basket is going to end up smaller than a 14 or 16 inch basket.
How windy will it be
Some plants are happy with the wind blowing through them and others don’t like it, or are prone to snapping in the wind.
Hanging baskets in exposed or windy positions will need more watering, you might want to add a watering system or choose a basket with a reservoir.
Choose a Colour theme and material.
There are wide range of colours, sizes, shapes and textures available you can create your own unique hanging basket
No room for a hanging basket
There is a wide range of wall baskets and troughs that can be used to add colour to your house.
Choosing plants for a hanging basket
It is possible to make a hanging basket at any time of the year, you just need to choose the best plants for the season.
I think the easiest way to design a hanging basket is to look at the way plants grow, some always want to grow upright, others are more relaxed making a rounded shape. some prefer to lounge about.
If you look at a hanging basket as a clock face we can separate the plants into three groups.
Upright plants 10-2 o’clock they provide height, sometimes used as a focal point. they are best in the middle of the basket often called thrillers as they try to attract your attention.
2-4 and 8-10 o’clock Bushy mounding plants used around the sides and middle of the basket. Often called fillers as they build up the layers of colour.
4-8 o’clock Trailing or spreading plants best used around the edge of the basket, they will hang over the edge best suited to baskets displayed above eye level. Sometimes called spillers they cascade over the edge of the basket.
Looking after your baskets
The first thing to remember is that hanging baskets are a fairly unnatural way of growing plants, the roots are restricted, the plants fight for room, they always need watering and quickly run out of food.
