Get Creative With Hanging Baskets
A great way to make your home really ‘pop’ this summer is by utilizing diverse hanging baskets with different plants and flowers. Hanging baskets are a great way to brighten up a dull wall or old fence, or to showcase a colorful front door. Seasonal hanging baskets are perfect for growing annuals, particularly trailing varieties. They can even be used to create a decorative display of herbs, vegetables, and fruits such as tumbling tomatoes and strawberries.
One of the best things about hanging baskets is the variety that is available to consumers. There are a number of different styles and sizes of hanging baskets – from cone-shaped to round, wicker to metal, and colorful or natural. Some baskets come lined while others may need a liner of either moss, cardboard or natural fiber. The liners can typically be found right next to the baskets themselves while you are shopping.
Once you have your supplies and are ready to start planting, first place an old saucer in the bottom to help retain excess water. Next, fill half the basket with good general purpose compost or topsoil; it may be beneficial to mix a few slow release fertilizer granules into the soil to help feed the plants over the course of the summer. To produce a fuller look to the basket, place trailing plants through holes made in the sides of the liner and cover their roots with more soil. Next, upright, bushy plants should be planted in the top of the basket; include a few more trailing plants around the edge too to bring it all together. It is best to include as many plants as possible to create a colorful, dramatic, and eye-catching display.
In order to properly care for your hanging baskets, regular watering is essential; because of the height that these planters are hung, they often more exposed to wind and will quickly dry out in hot weather. During extremely dry weather it may be best to water twice a day – early morning and late evening is best. If you have included a slow release fertilizer, the plants in the basket will be fed for up to six months. This will help to ensure the plants continue to flourish throughout the summer.
