Gardening Tips
June: Hanging Baskets
Hanging Baskets
From late last month and this month, you can start making up your hanging basket arrangements. Hanging baskets bring lots of colour to gardens and look great when in full bloom. You can get pre lined baskets or line your own baskets using a fibrous material like coco liner which absorbs the water giving the plants a more continuous supply of hydration. You should fill the basket about half way using a multi-purpose compost or if you wanted to have a longer lasting arrangement you could use Container & Basket Planting Mix. Its high level of nutrients makes this particular compost ideal for hanging baskets and other container planting.
Once half filled you can add water retaining gel which will continue to help with watering and minimising the chore as it slowly releases water to the plants. A good tip is to plant your basket plants from the centre outwards, this will make it easier to maintain good shape in your arrangements and give you more visibility planting as you work towards the sides of the basket. You could use trailing plants on the sides which will drape down over the edges diving the arrangement more impact. Its also best to work with coloured flowers that complement each other to avoid your arrangements looking too mismatched.
The most popular plants to use in a hanging basket are Geraniums, Petunias and Lobelia but there are a lot of different plants you could use depending on your arrangement. Our Hanging Basket plants are all available on our website and in store.
Why not try a perennial arrangement of Cordyline, Hedera and Salvia? Or a Summer arrangement of Argyranthemum, Geranium, Viola, Fuchsia, Petunia, Pelargonium and Salvia? Be creative!
You need to make sure hanging baskets are checked every day to make sure the soil is moist as these shallower rooted plants will dry out quicker. Water the plants when the soil becomes dry but make sure not to overwater so the soil is soggy. You can add a liquid fertilizer in the summer to the baskets about once a week to keep the plants healthy and dead head them regularly. Removing the dead heads regularly will prevent the plant using its energy to start producing seed and instead keep it producing flowers for longer.
Hopefully this has inspired you to get out in the garden and get ready for summer! There are so many flowers in bloom that have instant impact and fragrances for you to enjoy this month, as well as the good weather to enjoy gardening in. And don’t forget we also have outdoor living products if you are looking to get something new to sit in the sun on and enjoy your colourful hanging baskets and home-grown salads this year or cook up delicious food on the BBQ, why not take a look at our ranges in store and online!
Comments are closed