Your garden will have a whole new level of interest when you use hanging baskets. They can provide months of colour in even the smallest garden with proper care. Hang it in your front garden to welcome guests, on your balcony for a view of the outdoors, or wherever else you want to draw attention to it.
For gardening glory at elevated heights, combine them with beds and borders for a coordinated appearance or give them their own distinct style. With our straightforward instructions for making a hanging basket, you can easily achieve colourful and eye-catching displays.
Choosing plant selections for hanging baskets
Petunias
Petunias are a popular plant for hanging baskets because they are versatile. Petunias come in a wide range of colours and sizes, making them suitable for a variety of design styles. They are easy to care for, are low-maintenance, and require minimal care, making them ideal for a busy gardener. Petunias are also fast-growing and can quickly fill a hanging basket, adding colour and interest to your outdoor space.
To grow petunias, ensure that they have plenty of sunlight; ideally placed in full sun or partial shade. You will need well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Petunias require regular watering, but avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. They benefit from regular application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
Petunias look good with many different plants, including:
- Ferns add a soft, delicate texture to the basket and complement the bold petunias.
- Trailing ivy adds a trailing element to the basket and provides a contrast to the upright petunias.
- Geraniums have a similar growth habit to petunias and can add additional colour and interest to the basket.
- Bengolias add a delicate, contrasting flower and leaf texture to the basket, complementing the bold petunias.
Fuchsia
Fuchsias are perfect for hanging baskets because they have beautiful, pendulous flowers in a range of colours, including pink, red, purple, red and white. They can also be grown in the sun or shade, making them suitable for a variety of locations. Fuchsias also typically bloom from early summer to late fall, providing a long season of colour.
But be sure to grow them in the right conditions. Fuchsias prefer partial shade, although they can also grow in full sun if kept well-watered. They need well-draining soil that is moist but not waterlogged. Regular watering is essential during hot, dry weather and they also benefit from regular applications of fertiliser, especially in the growing season.
Fuchsias look good with a variety of plants, including:
- Ivy adds a trailing element to the basket and provides a contrast to the pendulous fuchsias.
- Ferns add a soft, delicate texture to the basket and complement the bold fuchsias.
- Geraniums have a similar growth habit to fuchsias and can add additional colour and interest to the basket.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a popular plant for hanging baskets for many reasons. Geraniums have bright, showy flowers in a range of colours, including pink, red, orange, and white. They can be grown in the sun or shade, making them suitable for a variety of locations. Geraniums are low-maintenance and require minimal care, making them ideal for busy gardeners.
Geraniums prefer full sun to partial shade, they also need well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Geraniums require regular watering, but avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. They also benefit from regular application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
We recommend adding geraniums to a hanging basket with:
- Ferns – to add a soft, delicate texture to the basket and complement the bold geraniums.
- Trailing Ivy – adding a trailing element to the basket and providing a contrast to the upright geraniums.
- Petunias – these have a similar growth habit to geraniums and can add additional colour and interest to the basket.
Violas
Violas are a popular plant for hanging baskets because they are Colourful, with small, cheerful flowers in a range of colours, including blue, purple, yellow, and white. Violas typically bloom from early spring to late autumn, providing a long season of colour. They can grow well in partial shade, making them suitable for locations that receive less sunlight.
Violas prefer partial shade to full sun in well-draining soil that is moist but not waterlogged. Violas need regular watering, especially in hot, dry weather. They also benefit from regular application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
Violas look good with:
- Ferns – to add a soft, delicate texture to the basket and complement the small, cheerful violas.
- Ivy – adds a trailing element to the basket and provides a contrast to the upright violas.
- Pansies – these have a similar growth habit to violas and can add additional colour and interest to the basket.
Primroses
Primroses are a popular plant for hanging baskets because they are vibrant, showy flowers in a range of colours, including yellow, pink, red, and blue. Primroses are one of the first plants to bloom in spring, providing an early season of colour. They can grow well in partial shade, making them suitable for locations that receive less sunlight.
Primroses prefer partial shade to full sun. With well-draining soil that is moist but not waterlogged. Primroses need regular watering, especially in hot, dry weather. They also benefit from regular application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
Primroses look good with:
- Ferns – Ferns add a soft, delicate texture to the basket and complement the vibrant primroses.
- Ivy – Ivy adds a trailing element to the basket and provides a contrast to the upright primroses.
- Pansies – Pansies have a similar growth habit to primroses and can add additional colour and interest to the basket.
- Forget-me-nots – Forget-me-nots have delicate blue flowers that complement the primroses and add additional colour to the basket
Lavender
Lavender is a good plant to grow in hanging baskets because it is known for its sweet, fragrant aroma, which adds a sensory element to the basket. It is an easy-to-grow plant that requires little attention once established. Lavender typically blooms from late spring to early summer, providing a long season of colour.
Lavender prefers full sun and does best in areas with 6 or more hours of direct sun per day. They need well-draining soil that is moist but not waterlogged. Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant but needs regular watering in hot, dry weather. They benefit from the occasional application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season. Check out our care guide for lavender.
Lavender looks good with:
- Thyme – Thyme has a similar growth habit to lavender and provides a contrasting fragrance and colour to the basket.
- Rosemary – Rosemary adds a trailing element to the basket and complements the upright lavender.
- Sedum – Sedum has a trailing habit and provides a contrasting texture to the basket.
Ivy
Ivy is a good plant to grow in hanging baskets because it has a trailing habit and glossy, green leaves that add texture to the basket. It is an easy-to-grow plant that requires little attention once established. Ivy can help to create a shady microclimate in the basket, which is especially beneficial for other plants that need protection from the sun.
Ivy prefers shade to partial shade, although it can also grow in full sun if the soil remains consistently moist. They need well-draining soil that is moist but not waterlogged. Ivy needs regular watering in hot, dry weather. Ivy benefits from the occasional application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
Ivy looks good with:
- Ferns – Ferns have a similar growth habit to ivy and provide a complementary texture to the basket.
- Petunias – Petunias have a mounding habit and provide a pop of colour to the basket.
Strawberries
Strawberries can be grown in hanging baskets and make an attractive and productive addition to your outdoor space. Strawberry plants need full sun for 6-8 hours per day to produce healthy growth and fruit. They prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Strawberry plants need regular watering, especially when fruiting. Strawberry plants benefit from regular application of fertiliser, especially during the growing season.
Strawberries look good with herbs, such as basil, rosemary, and thyme, which provide a complementary fragrance and flavour to the strawberries. Flowers, such as petunias and geraniums, provide a pop of colour to the basket. Lettuce and greens, such as spinach, provide a contrasting texture and flavour to the strawberries.
How to plant up hanging baskets
To plant up a hanging basket, you will need:
- Potted plants
- Hanging basket
- Basket liner or sphagnum moss
- Short, wide, and a small plastic pot
- Multipurpose compost
- Water-retaining crystals (optional)
- Newspaper and scissors
A step-by-step guide to planting a hanging basket
Step 1
To ensure stability, place the hanging basket on a short, wide pot. Use moss or a special liner if the basket does not already have one. Mix water-retaining crystals into your compost (optional).
Step 2
To assist in water retention, place a polythene circle at the base. For trailing plants, make holes about 5 centimeters above the base in the liner. Compost should cover the basket to that level.
Step 3
Push the trailing plants’ root balls through the holes by wrapping the paper around them. The compost in the basket should be level with the roots. Firm the additional compost around the plants.
Step 4
As a reservoir, place a small plastic pot near the basket’s center. Place shorter plants at the basket’s perimeter and taller plants in its center. Put compost and water in the well to fill in the area around them.
Step 5
Keep your hanging basket hydrated on a regular basis. Summer baskets thrive when fed liquid fertiliser on a weekly basis.
Step 6
Place the basket on the compost heap at the conclusion of the season. In the garden, some hardy plants like ivies can be replanted.
Top Tip: Hanging baskets are perfect for growing herbs and strawberries too!
Conclusion
In conclusion, hanging baskets can add a vibrant touch to any garden or outdoor space. Petunias, fuchsias, geraniums, and violas are popular options for hanging baskets due to their ease of care, range of colours, and complementary textures with other plants. Make sure to place them in a location with proper sunlight and well-draining soil, and to give them regular watering and fertilisation for best results. With these tips, you can easily achieve a beautiful hanging basket display.
