Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are the perfect companions for pots in cottage, patio, pub and station gardens. But they are also advantageous for houses or flats without gardens. It is not too late to make up an attractive display that will last all summer.

Colour, shape and design

Deep maroon-burgundy is a colour that is still a favourite with some designers. But why not go for the colours, shapes and scents that please you. After all, in your garden, you will be the person most likely to enjoy the results for the longest period of time.

Pick up a pack of plants

Plug plants and pots of ready-to-grow summer bedding varieties are readily available from supermarket, garden centre, plant nursery, corner shop and of course good garden websites! Subtle colours and unusual forms are so tempting that even non-gardeners fancy trying their hand at artistic creations. All it takes is the ability to place one plant you like next to another.

Sun or shade?

Better results will come from choosing shade tolerant plants for a basket that is to hang in an overshadowed site, or one that faces away from the sun. Small ivies have interesting bird’s foot shapes and they thrive in the shade. Fuchsias will flower in fairly shady sites. Another choice might be dwarf varieties of "Busy Lizzy", or miniature cyclamen.

Plants that flourish in full sun, such as geraniums (Pelargonium), would be the better choice for a basket destined for a south-facing wall.

Hanging basket compost

Much of the bother of choosing plants for soil compatibility is removed by using purchased bags of compost. Special compost mixtures for hanging baskets are light and free draining, allowing plants to root quickly. They suit most types of plants likely to be chosen for hanging baskets.

Planting ideas for baskets

Everyone has favourites, but sometimes it’s invigorating to try something different. Many of the following plants are not hardy but they bring some extra colour and vitality to the garden. They are suitable for display outside during summer, or on a conservatory wall.

• Shrubs that trail include the following: Abutilon megapotamicum – suitable for a warm wall; Fuchsia ‘Golden Marinka’ – variegated leaves and pendulous flowers; ‘La Campanella’- white and purple flowers; ‘Lena’ – white and pink flowers; and ‘Happy Wedding Day’ - double white flowers.
• Shrub that sprawls: Mimulus aurantiacus – an evergreen plant that becomes transformed with yellow, orange or crimson flowers. Spring cuttings will flower the same year.
• Silver foliage shrub: the variegated liquorice plant is grown in hanging baskets for the silver grey/cream leaves.
• Perennials that spread: Anagallis monellii has small leaves and vivid blue flowers. Sutera cordata ‘Snowflake’ and Sutera hybrid Jamesbrittenia (new for 2001) both bear small leaves and tiny, five petal flowers. The blooms of the latter are purple.
• Perennials that trail (1) Pelargonium ‘Madam Crosse’- semi-double pink flowers - and P. 'Yale’ - semi-double red flowers - are suitable for baskets, as are Ivy-leafed cascading geraniums: deep red flowering Pelargonium ‘Tomcat’ and P. ‘Evka’ - very early with variegated foliage. As a rough guide, three cascading geraniums will fit into a fourteen-inch basket.
• Perennials that trail (2) Petunia Tumbelina ‘Julia’ pink/mauve and ‘Priscilla’ are double flower cascading kinds that originate from a breeder in Cambridgeshire. A new one in this series ‘Rosella’ would fit in with a mauve/purple colour theme. Petunia Surfinia comes in a collection of six colours including ‘Sky Blue’ and new ‘Lime’ (pale yellow). 
• Annuals that trail: Lobelia ‘Colour Cascade’ with blue, pink, or white flowers is just one example of numerous trailing annuals that could be chosen.

‘Sweeties’ for hanging baskets

A new variety of sweet pea bred especially for hanging baskets, ‘Sweetie’ by Suttons. Sweetpea plants, in a mixture of colours, are ready for growing on in baskets to flower from June to September. Each pack holds ten plugs and each plug contains three plants.

For further inspiration…

The best hanging basket flower displays that I have seen in recent years have been at nurseries, summer flower shows and railway stations. And garden centres take pride in the colourful hanging baskets that help to sell their plants and seeds.

Hampton Court Station and Saxmundham Station, in Suffolk, are just two of the many stations in Britain noted for rather special hanging basket creations. Remember to look out for good examples at your local stations. Railway employees often decorate stations with choice plants.

Alternative choice of plants

It is possible to grow some types of bedding plants, herbs, houseplants, strawberries and other perennials in hanging baskets. Depending on the size and design, a hanging container can hold a surprising number of plants.

Alternative containers

Hanging baskets with metal or rope chains to facilitate hanging them on house walls are popular. They can be made of wire, plastic, clay, or various other materials:

*Wire baskets lined with moss

*Flower Tower Hanging Baskets

*Hanging clay pots in rope chains

*Flower pouches

And finally…

Growing plants in hanging baskets is easy. Plants in hanging baskets produce satisfactory results if they are watered regularly and fed at regular intervals.