Green thumbs who want to add an extra something special to their garden this spring should definitely consider installing hanging baskets or pots.
These wonderful inclusions will add a splash touch of colour to any garden and are easy to care for, ensuring they’re ideal for first-time gardeners.
Fantastic colourful plants for hanging baskets, many of which will naturally trail over the side of a basket, include: Petunias, Geraniums, Lobelias, Fuschias, Marigolds, Verbena, Begonia, Impatiens and Nasturtiums.
As with any plant, the position of a hanging basket is crucial, and it is particularly important to consider any windy zones.
Also, when installing these baskets, ensure they can withstand plenty of extra weight after being watered, using appropriate hooks and strong chains.
Using lighter soil and potting mix for these plants will help with this issue and don’t forget to regularly check their stability.
Remember to hang the plants near a tap and in a spot that’s easy to reach.
It’s a good idea to regularly rotate the baskets or move them to other spots, to ensure all sides of the flowers receive the same amount of sunlight and shade.
Even if they’re hung in cooler, shadier places, hanging basket plants dry out much faster than those planted in soil or in pots on the ground.
So firstly, aim to plant drought and heat-tolerant flowers.
Then, be aware that on hot days, hanging baskets may need to be watered every day, if not twice a day.
Water the basket until the liquid runs down through the drainage hole, remembering that this will make the basket feel quite heavy afterwards.
If it’s difficult to reach the basket, use a watering wand which attaches to the end of a hose.
This clever attachment allows gardeners to water hanging baskets without needing to pull them up or down.