Hanging baskets can give a splendid show in any season, but are particularly successful through the summer and autumn months. You can use a wide range of plants, so it's easy to plan a colour scheme.
Tools required: wire basket about 30cm (12in) diameter, green coconut fibre / sphagnum moss or a natural green ready-made fibre liner, plastic bin-liner, all-purpose potting mix just moist but not soggy, scissors, well-watered plants of your choice
Assembly (allow a day, with help):
- Remove one of the hanging chains and stand the basket on a flower-pot or small saucepan to keep it steady. Cover the inside of the basket with an even layer of green coconut fibre or sphagnum moss.
- Lay out the plastic bin-liner inside the basket, against the fibre. Cut round the edges of the bin-liner where it overlaps the basket. Make sure that the coconut fibre hides the liner from view.
- Firm in some potting mix at the bottom of the basket, about 2.5cm (1in) deep. At soil level, make three cuts, of 2cm (0.75in) across, through the bin-liner and the fibre at the sides of the basket.
- Select the plants you want for the sides of the baskets, then, individually, wrap their stems and leaves only in paper. The paper should be at least 3cm (1.25in) longer than stems of the plants.
- Push the end of the paper through one of the holes you made earlier in the liner and moss, until the rootball is up against the liner. Then, you can remove the paper without harming the plant.
- After adding the other two plants, firm the soil around the rootballs. Add more of the soil to about two thirds up. Repeat the process with four more plants. Finally, plant the top of your basket.
Supplied by: BBC Gardening
