Planting trailing plants in hanging baskets is a fantastic way to add vibrant cascades of color and foliage to your outdoor spaces, creating a stunning visual display.
Essential Preparations for Your Hanging Basket
Before you begin planting, gather all your materials and prepare your hanging basket to ensure optimal growth and a lush, overflowing look.
1. Choose the Right Basket
Hanging baskets come in various materials, including wire, plastic, and natural fibers. Wire baskets are popular as they allow for side planting, which is crucial for maximizing the trailing effect.
2. Select a Suitable Liner
Liners help retain moisture and compost. Options include:
- Coir (coconut fiber) liners: Excellent drainage and aeration.
- Sphagnum moss: Great moisture retention.
- Fabric liners: Often made from recycled materials.
Ensure the liner fits snugly and covers all the inner surfaces of the basket.
3. Prepare Your Compost Mix
A good quality, multi-purpose compost is essential. For hanging baskets, it's beneficial to add:
- Water-retaining gel crystals: These absorb and release water, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Slow-release fertilizer granules: Provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
Mix these additives thoroughly with your compost before you start planting.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Trailing Plants
Achieving a full, abundant hanging basket involves planting not just from the top, but also through the sides, allowing for a truly spectacular display.
Step 1: Layering the Compost
Begin by filling your basket with the prepared compost mix. Fill your basket with the compost mix until it's level with the first layer of slits (or openings in the wire basket/liner). Gently firm down the compost, but don't compact it too much, as roots need space to grow.
Step 2: Inserting Side-Trailing Plants
This is a critical step for creating a full, overflowing basket. For plants that will trail downwards from the sides:
- Insert your trailing plants by pushing the plants 'head-first' from the inside through the slits.
- Carefully push the rootball through the opening, ensuring the foliage and stem are outside the basket.
- Gently firm the compost around the roots from the inside.
- Repeat this process for all available slits in the first layer.
Step 3: Continuing Layers
Once the first layer of side plants is in place:
- Add more compost until it reaches the next level of slits.
- Repeat the process of inserting trailing plants 'head-first' through these slits from the inside.
- Continue this process until all side slits are utilized and the basket is filled to about 2-3 inches from the rim.
Step 4: Planting Top Plants
With the side plants securely in place, it's time to plant the top of your basket.
- Central Plant: Choose a focal point plant, often an upright or mounding variety, and place it in the center.
- Intermediate Plants: Around the central plant, add more trailing or semi-trailing plants that will cascade over the top edge.
- Spacing: Ensure adequate spacing between plants to allow for growth.
- Firming: Gently firm the compost around all plants.
Step 5: Initial Watering
After planting, thoroughly water your hanging basket until water drains from the bottom. This settles the compost around the roots and provides initial hydration.
Ideal Trailing Plants for Hanging Baskets
Many plants are perfect for creating a dramatic trailing effect. Here are some popular choices:
| Plant Name | Light Requirements | Flower Colors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petunia (trailing) | Full Sun | Various | Prolific bloomers, vibrant. |
| Lobelia | Full Sun/Part Shade | Blue, White, Pink | Delicate flowers, forms a dense mat. |
| Verbena | Full Sun | Purple, Pink, Red, White | Drought-tolerant, long-blooming. |
| Bacopa | Full Sun/Part Shade | White, Pink, Blue | Small, abundant flowers, continuous bloom. |
| Sweet Potato Vine | Full Sun/Part Shade | N/A (Foliage Plant) | Striking foliage in various colors. |
| Fuchsia | Part Shade | Red, Pink, Purple, White | Unique, pendulous flowers, elegant. |
| Nasturtium | Full Sun | Yellow, Orange, Red | Edible flowers and leaves. |
Ongoing Care for Lush Baskets
To keep your hanging baskets looking their best throughout the season:
- Watering: Hanging baskets dry out quickly. Check daily, and water thoroughly, especially during hot weather.
- Feeding: Supplement with a liquid feed every 1-2 weeks, particularly for heavy feeders like petunias.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms and maintain a tidy appearance.
- Pest and Disease Control: Monitor for any signs of pests or diseases and address them promptly.
By following these steps, you can create breathtaking hanging baskets that will be a highlight of your garden or patio.
