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Written by Veronica Mitchell
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Hanging baskets are quick and effective at providing additional colour. It's difficult to fail with baskets and this explains their popularity.
The first stage is to fill the basket. Use the wire type rather than a solid plastic basket because it’s easier to plant the sides with trailing plants. Filling the basket is easier if you place it on top of a flower pot. The compost you use should contain a wetting agent that makes water soak into the compost much more effectively. Lining the basket can be carried out with moss or a purpose designed liner. Once the liner is installed you can start to plant the sides whilst building up the compost in the basket. A good tip is to place a 7cm pot in the top of the basket so that it’s level with the finished level of the compost. This will aid watering, especially if you intend to use a watering can. Planting should start with the sides, using plants that will cover the side such as busy lizzies or trailing plants such as lobelia which is the classic plant for hanging baskets. Plants for the top can include geraniums, fuchsias, marigolds and petunia.
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