Make your own hanging basket

 

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1. Choosing your basket

When it comes to baskets, size—or in this case, volume—does matter. The volume of the basket is directly related to the amount of water your hanging garden can retain; if you select a basket that is too small, you’ll have to water daily, if not more often.

You might want to take a look at some basket styles in my amazon store front here: https://amzn.to/4bN5I0j

2. Insert a liner if your chosen basket needs one

3. Build a base layer of compost

Start with a base layer of good-quality compost in the bottom of your basket. Press it against the bottom and sides of the basket so that you have a firm background to start placing in your plants - if you have a cuttable liner you may want to cut in slits to place plants in the side and bottom of your basket. 

Compost options

You can get moisture control composts or use water reservoirs to help with the watering of your baskets.

Why not get your compost delivered to your door.. it is so much easier than lugging bags round, having wonky garden centre trollies and messing up your car.. check out some of the compost options on amazon here: https://amzn.to/4bLhCbi

Planting

Plant the top of the basket firstAdd more compost and plant short or trailing plants around the edge and taller plants in the centre. Fill in around them with compost so the final compost level is just slightly below the rim of the basket

If you have put slits in your basket to have plants in the side and bottom you will need to hang your basket up somewhere to support the weight of the chains so you can plant around the sides and bottom

My favourite plants at the moment for hanging baskets:

Begonia

Fuchsias

Petunias

Bacopa

Lobelia

Calibrachoa

Geraniums (Pelargoniums)

Osteospermum

Nasturtiums

Verbena

Pansies or Viola

Check out some of the plug plants i found on amazon here: https://amzn.to/4apHlEZ

Why not have a go at making a Herb Hanging basket - if you are new to hanging baskets and would like to do something a bit different why not have a go at using herbs.. pop in some trailing cherry tomatoes or strawberries for a burst of colour and flowers

Check out this little herb plug plants starter set on amazon this one is mint and sage - https://amzn.to/3V6s0Vm

Or why not have a go at planting your own seeds.. my personal favourite is Mr Fothergills seeds. You can find some of my top picks for seeds for your herb garden here: https://amzn.to/4dEOKmG

Watering

Say hello to my little friend!! I have a little tool that i love so i don't have to lift a heavy watering can it is a pump gun that you fit onto a regular water bottle.. take a look, you can find it on amazon here: https://amzn.to/4axKv9M

So to keep your baskets looking great all summer just:

• Water often and thoroughly. Plants in containers need to be watered more often than if they were growing in the ground and this is especially true for hanging baskets as they have a lot of plants packed into a small space. They usually need watering at least once, if not twice, a day as both heat and wind make them dry out. A good tip is to reach up and lift the pot from below; if it feels light, it probably needs water, another way to check is put your finger an inch into the soil and if it is dry at that depth then you need to water.
• Feeding - with constant watering you are washing away the nutrients so feed the basket with a liquid fertiliser like Tomorite or Miracle Gro or a dry slow release fertiliser (not both). Follow instructions but always feed when soil is moist and not if plants are wilting.
• Deadheading is such an important part of keeping your plants looking good. As flowers fade and die, remove them by pinching them off where they meet the stem. This promotes the formation of new flowers. Otherwise, the plant may put its energy into creating seed.
• Top up your Plants with new ones if needed; if one has come to the end of it's life and just isn’t blooming replace it by carefully easing it out and placing a new one in the gap, or if the surrounding plants  are really thriving you could just put a handful of compost in and allow them to fill the space.
• In extreme heat or if you have taken your eye off the basket and its wilting submerge it into a large bucket or container of water for an hour to revive it.
• Cut back straggly plants such as verbena, petunias, trailing geraniums, lobelia if they look leggy and they will produce denser new growth.

I hope you have liked this little project if you do.. let me know and i will do more 

Happy Gardening!! xo