The UK's bestHanging Baskets2022 Review

Hanging Basket Buyer’s Guide

Design

Hanging baskets come in a range of materials and styles so it is easy to find one that complements your garden perfectly.

You can choose from traditional metal baskets lined with moss or coco liners, to plastic styles that include water reservoirs. You can also choose baskets made from natural materials such as rattan which look lovely in both traditional and modern schemes.

The styles available vary from classical, traditional, natural or modern.

Size

A larger basket will obviously hold more plants, but it will also hold more compost so this will help provide the plants with the nutrients they need. Larger baskets also dry out less quickly. A 30 cm basket is a good size as it is large enough to make an impact and keep plants healthy, but is not too heavy to hang.

Chain Strength

Always choose a hanging basket with a good strong chain that can hold the weight of your filled basket. Ensure that the bracket you hang your basket from is secure, too. You don’t want your beautifully planted basket ending up on the ground!

Drainage

Hanging baskets are relatively small so they dry out quickly in warm summer weather. For this reason, drying out is often more of a problem than waterlogging. However, you do want you hanging a basket to drain away excess water, so your precious plants don’t rot in a wet spell. There are many ways to ensure the right balance. A coco liner will drain well but not too quickly. To hold water at the bottom, you can put a square of plastic bin liner so that the water doesn’t run straight out after watering. Many plastic hanging baskets features a reservoir and drainage holes to keep the balance of moisture just right.

FAQs

How do you plant hanging baskets?  

To plant up a hanging basket you should first insert a suitable liner, if necessary, to hold the soil but still allow drainage. Then half fill the basket with a good quality potting compost designed for baskets and containers. Then you simply put the plants in place and fill the rest of the basket up with compost. Leave about an inch between the soil and the rim of the basket to allow for watering.

How do you make hanging baskets look full?

To make a really lovely full display in your hanging basket start with a specimen plant. Choose a plant that is attractive, upright and that has a long flowering time. Fuchsias and salvias make a good choice. You can then fill the rest of the basket with plants that have a spreading and trailing habit. These plants will fill up the space, intertwine for a lovely natural look and trail down the sides of the basket for a spectacular display. Trailing petunias, geraniums and lobelia make good choices.

When should you plant hanging baskets?

For summer flowers, you should plant your basket once all risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, you can plant earlier and keep the baskets in a greenhouse until the weather is warm enough to move them outdoors. You can also plant your baskets up for winter. Make sure you choose suitable plants that can cope with low temperatures and frost such as winter pansies, heathers, cyclamen and ivy.

How often should you water hanging baskets?

Hanging baskets should be thoroughly soaked every day in warm weather. In very hot spells, or if your baskets are in a particularly hot spot, you may need to water twice a day or more. You should definitely water your baskets whenever you see your plants drooping.

You should also feed your hanging baskets every two weeks to ensure they keep blooming all summer long. You can use a multi-purpose liquid feed mixed with water.

Hanging baskets are a great way to make an impact in the garden and brighten walls and courtyards as well as adding height to your overall display. I would recommend the Gardman Georgian Hanging Basket because it is large and durable and has a lovely traditional design that would suit any style of garden.

Sources

• Stewart Corinthian Hanging Basket