Adding a hanging basket to your outside living room, porch or along the front of your home is a fabulous way to extend the garden. The work that goes into the prep and planting for hanging baskets is fairly simple and you can put together several in a day so that you always have something occupying various corners. Growing plants in hanging baskets requires a few extra touches to ensure that the plants thrive and fill the basket in a way that is stylish and graceful.
How to Prep and Plant Hanging Baskets
Use these tips to prep and plant hanging baskets according to the spot you will be placing them and the plants that you want to grow.
Determine Space for Hanging Basket
The first step to prepping and planting hanging baskets is to determine where you will be hanging your basket. Planters can be situated in any light situations from full sun to partial sun to shade. As soon as you know what type of sunlight an area is receiving, you can choose your plants and then prep the basket for those flowers.
Choosing Hanging Basket Plants
Now that you know what kind of light your basket is going to be hanging in, select plants that will be able to thrive, not just survive, in those growing conditions. Think about the size of the basket and how you want the basket arrangement to appear from different angles. Choose a trailing plant, something floral that will add a pop of color and an upright or bushy plant that can be added to the center of the basket. Think about using an anchor flower, around which your other selections will be situated.
14" Resin Woven Hanging Basket, Natural Wicker, 6/csH Potter Hanging Patio Garden Planter BasketExotic Elegance Set of 2 Garden Decorative 4 ½" Coconut Shell Hanging Planter Pot (Size M).
Prepping the Basket for Planting
Prepping you basket for planting is important because it will give your flowers the stable home that they are going to require for several months. If their needs are not met, baskets can be an entire failure, or simply create a mess in the area over which they are hanging. Add a sturdy coco fiber lining to the frame of your basket, fill this halfway with soil and then top off with timed release plant fertilizer to feed your plants during the long growing season.
Plant the Hanging Basket
Thinking first of your anchor plant, place the tallest, busiest or colorful plant in the center. Any short growing or trailing plants should be added around the perimeter of the anchor plant to sort of frame it. Three to four plants per basket is plenty, they might be small to start with but they fill in fast (see my article on the Thriller, Filler, Spiller Container garden technique for additional information on selecting plants for containers). Add additional soil around the root balls of the plants, leaving a clear divide between the soil and the coco liner.
Try growing strawberries in hanging baskets. They actually do pretty well in them.
Continued Care for Hanging Baskets
Your hanging basket is going to need continuous care during the summer months because it is in such a unique growing situation. Plants need to be pruned so that they do not begin to overtake other flowers in the basket. Additionally, halfway through the summer growing season, additional plant food or a bloom booster should be introduced to lengthen the longevity of your plants.
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Kelsey Apley says
What pretty arrangements! I am a huge fan of flowers, and thanks for the idea's!!! I can't wait to get some pretty flowers out!
Penelope Guzman (NY Blogger) says
I've considered this around areas of the home and property that are rather barren….I think this would really add some vibrance and beauty.
vanessa: thequeenofswag says
Thanks for the tips. I love hanging flowers. They are so pretty!
Tammy says
We have some hooks on our eaves that the previous owners I assumed used for hanging floral baskets. I was looking at some at Home Depot the other evening and they were pretty but I bet with these tips I could even just buy a bunch of supplies on my own and put a few together to hang up.
Angela says
I love your beautiful flowers in the hanging baskets. Thanks for the ideas. I think we'll hang some up, too.
Kathleen B says
Hanging flower baskets are gorgeous! I just wish I could grow them and keep them alive. It is hard to find plants that can stand the Florida heat in the summer.
Jen A says
These are always so pretty when I see them and add such a nice burst of color. Sadly where I want to hang them there is no sun, but I'm looking to redoing some of our back yard so hopefully these will come into play, thanks!
Mistee Dawn says
I love hanging baskets. I have one in my house so far, cannot wait to add more.
lisa jones says
Thank You For The Great Tips You Did A Beautiful Job!
k says
Great advice here. I'm never sure if I am really doing it right. I"ve got a couple outside that I've done this year - so far so good. I love flowering plants in hangers - makes a yard really stand out with lots of color!!
Ashley M says
I do not have a green thumb. I tried hanging baskets last year with just a single plant in them and wasn't a fan. I really like the idea of an anchor plant and other flowers surrounding it.
Crystal @ SimplyBeingMommy.com says
Those baskets are beautiful. I need to add more color around the house.
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom says
I have been wanting to add baskets around my home for a while. They really do dress up a home beautifully.