Planting a Hanging Basket

Photo Provided by Ulga

In mid to late spring, home improvement stores, garden centers, and even grocery stores come alive with beautiful displays of hanging baskets. Hanging baskets full of brilliant blossoms add character to any front porch. Perhaps you would like to purchase one but, these baskets seem too pricy. Or, the price isn’t so bad but the plastic basket the plant comes in is atrocious. You can solve these problems by making your own hanging basket. The added bonus to this is that you can place whatever plants you like in your home made basket.

1. First you must choose your basket. You can find various styles to choose from at your local garden center. Liners are next. There are several different types of liners to choose from:

Natural Liners
• Moss
• Coir fiber
• Wool
• Conifer clippings

Other Liners
• Pre-molded, Biodegradable
• Plastic
• Foam
• Coir Matting

2. Next choose your soil. It’s important to make sure water can drain through the soil mix. For hanging baskets use a lightweight mix that is based on peat, coir, or bark instead of soil. This will allow the water to be retained without water logging the soil.
3. You are ready to plant. It is helpful to rest the basket on the rim of a bucket while working with it. Place the liner in the basket and the soil half-way up the basket.
4. Plant plants that trail a along the sides of the basket first. This will allow them to dangle down the side of the basket. You can poke holes in the liner and gently send the roots of the plant through or go the other way and gently pull the top growth out of the liner. Cover the roots with soil.
5. Cover the roots of the side plants and then place a large plant in the middle of the basket, pressing it firmly into the soil. Fill the space around this large focal plant with smaller complimenting flowers.
6. Water the basket and then let it drain. Make sure the chains that suspend the basket are strong enough to hold it then get the plants used to the outdoors gradually.

Some helpful tips to keep that basket looking gorgeous are:
• Keep the soil moist. Water it when needed.
• Four weeks after planting, start regular liquid feedings unless you used a slow release soil mix.
• Remove faded or dead flowers right away. This will allow more flowers.
• If going on vacation, bring your baskets down and group them together in a slightly shaded area.

Creating your own flowering hanging basket is not as difficult as it would seem. You’ll feel great when you step back and see what you’ve done, plus it’s great to be able to make your own flower choices instead of purchasing someone else’s. What are some of your favorite plant combinations for hanging baskets?