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Index of Pages Hanging Basket Laying Turf Removing Branches Make a Compost Heap Fencing Building a Rockery Moving a Large Plant Making a Spirit Level Pest Control

Making a Hanging Basket

Choose a basket type.
Wire mesh (as above) with a slotted liner (made of coir fibre, plastic or foam). These baskets enable you to plant in the sides of the hanging basket.

Plastic hanging baskets with water reservoirs. These insulate against the wind and sun, so have better water retention properties, however the sides of the baskets cannot be planted.

Fill a bucket with sufficient potting compost to fill the basket to within 5cm (2in) from the top (creating a watering space).

Mix water retaining gel or balls with water. Add this along with controlled release fertiliser (fertiliser sticks and blocks are also available) to the potting compost and mix well.

Putting a saucer or polythene at the bottom of the basket will reduce watering requirements.

Half fill the basket with the compost mixture.

Tip: Stand the basket on a bucket or large flowerpot to stop it falling over.

Starting at the bottom of the basket, plant a mixture of trailing flowers around the sides of the basket.

When adding the plants, try to avoid breaking the roots. If buying plants in strips, gently tease them apart - don't be tempted to cut them apart.

Fill the basket with more compost as you work up to the top of the basket.

Plant the top of the basket, place a larger plant, such as geranium, fuchsia or small conifer, into the centre and surround this with smaller plants.

Water the basket well and hang it up.

Remember to water your hanging basket regularly.

Plant suggestions :

• Guardman manufacture a product called HI-LO (originally produced by Erin). It is connected between the hanging basket and bracket, allowing the hanging basket to be raised and lowered for ease of watering and tending plants.
• To make watering hanging basket easier, Hozelock produce a hanging basket lance. Connected to your hose, this long metal pipe, with a curved neck, makes it easy to water hard to reach baskets.
• If you have a number of hanging baskets to water, it might be worth investing in a micro-irrigation system. Gardena and Hozelock hava a range of micro-irrigation systems and products.
• Hanging baskets and containers are particularly prone to drying out, causing the plant to wilt and dry.
• Containers can be moved around the patio or garden as the plants come into flower and then fade.
• Cover the drainage holes in containers with broken pots or largish stones, then a layer of course grit to deter slugs entering.
• Cover the top of the soil with course grit to aid drainage and discourage slugs and snails. A layer of pebbles will prevent squirrels burying their food in your pots.
• Large pots can be partially filled with polystyrene blocks or balls, this reduces the amount of compost needed and make it easier to move.