W
a v e C
a t c h
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Trailing glories
A. 3 million bells/impatiens/petunias)
in white
B. 1 petunia in purple
C. 2 twinspur in peach/nasturtiums
D. 2 verbena in pink
g a r d e n | i n s t a n t i m p a c t
H
A
N
G
I N
G
B
A
S
K
E
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B
A
S
I C
S
Follow these steps for foolproof
container plantings.
STEP l: CHOOSE YOUR BASKET
Typical hanging baskets are made of wire
or plastic. Line wire baskets with plant
moss, coco fibre or coir (available at garden
stores), or plastic. Plant moss and coco
fibre are porous, so they will dry out more
quickly than plastic. Use soft materials to
be able to poke planting holes around the
outside of the basket.
STEP 2: ADD SOIL
Fill the basket with a lightweight potting
mix. Buy a packaged mix or make your
own with equal parts peat moss, perlite,
and vermiculite for quick sprouting of the
plants. This also works as a nutritional mix
for plants. Line the container with a water-
absorbing mat to maintain moisture. Fill
the soil to within an inch or two of the rim
for easy watering.
STEP 3: PLANT THE BASKET
Choose a single kind of flower or a
combination of plants for your basket. To
get a full, balled effect, choose compact,
bushy varieties. Include multiple species,
of tall, mid-height, and trailing forms for
variety. Place taller plants near the centre
and trailing plants along the edges.
STEP 4: WATER WELL
Water the soil mix thoroughly after
planting. Thereafter, you may have to water
daily if the weather turns hot. Lifting a
basket is a quick way to judge if it needs
water. The lighter the basket, the drier
the soil. If the basket dries out during
the season, the top of the soil may crust
over. Break the crust and wet the soil ball
thoroughly again.
STEP 5: PROVIDE AFTERCARE
Encourage a spherical shape by pinching off
the main shoot of a plant when it reaches
the desired height. It encourages growth
of side shoots. Rotating containers once
a week allows all flowers to receive equal
exposure to sunlight. Deadhead spent
blooms and pinch back leggy plants. Check
soil moisture often; in summer, you may
need to water twice. ■
128
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS | DECEMBER
2011
