Hanging baskets / RHS Gardening (2024)

Plants for winter baskets:
Crocus, Gaultheria, Iris reticulata cultivars, Hedera (ivy) – either variegated or plain, Carex (ornamental sedge), Primula (primulas and polyanthus), Cyclamen (small-flowered cyclamen), Viola (winter pansies and viola) and Erica carnea (winter-flowering heathers).

Plants for perennial baskets:
Hedera (ivy), Carex (ornamental sedge), Salvia officinalis and cultivars, Thymus (thyme), Heuchera,Hylotelephium cauticola, Sempervivum, Erigeron karvinskianus, and strawberries.

Plant summer hanging baskets from late April onwards, but they will need protection from frosts until lateMay/early June. If you do not have a greenhouse, it is usually easier to plant your basket once the risk of frost haspassed. Acclimatise tender annuals to outdoor temperatures by hardening off.

Plant winter hanging baskets between September and November.

There are a few things to consider before you plant up your hanging basket:

Lining

First of all, if you are using a standard wire basket, it will need to be lined. You can buy ready-made cardboard liners and fibrous materials sold for the purpose, but a thrifty option is to collect moss from yourlawn. Avoid buying sphagnum moss, unless you are sure it has been harvested from a sustainable source. If using moss, aim to cover the inside with a layer about 1.5cm (½in) thick.

Watering systems

Before you fill your basket with compost consider how you will water it. Hanging baskets tend to dry out more quickly than other types of container and water can easily be wasted from them.

If you have many baskets, you might consider using anautomated watering system. Drip irrigation systems deliver water slowly and directly to the roots so there is less risk of wasting water.They can be used with timers but still need to be adjusted as the plants grow bigger and the weather changes. Most drip irrigation systems are designed for mains tap water use as they need very clean and pressurised water for the drippers to operate correctly.

Compost

A good quality, peat-free multipurpose compost is fine for a display that only has to last for one year. Adding some loam based compost, such as peat-freeJohn Innes potting compost, will benefitlong-term plantings, but be mindful of the additional weight it will add to your basket.If you want to grow plants that prefer acidic soil, such as winter flowering heathers, it is best to go for ericaeous compost; although Erica carnea and E. × darleyensis, and cultivars of them, are less fussy about pH levels.

Planting up your basket

The same method is used for planting up both summer and winter baskets. See our handy step-by-step guide for information on planting a hanging basket.

Watering frequency

Check baskets every day in summer, watering unless the compost is already moist. Drying out is an increasing risk as the plants grow and days remain warm or windy. An easy way to check if they need water is to gently lift or nudge thebaskets to gauge how heavy they are.If they arereally light, they needwatering.

Try to avoid them drying out to the point where plants start to droop ('wilting point'), but if they do wilt, you can place a bucket underneath to capture the water that runs off and return it to the basket. This willsave water andsoluble nutrients that are needed for flowering.

Although baskets don’t dry out as quickly in winter, they still need regular checking. Aim to keep the compost moist but not soggy, and avoid wetting the foliage and flowers.See our guide to watering containers for further information.

Feeding

Summer bedding plants and ediblesbenefit from occasionalfeeding with a liquid fertiliser in spring, summer and early autumn (April to September). Winter hanging baskets don't need feeding - it can encourage soft new growth that is easily damaged by frosts.

If you grow little shrubs or perennials in your baskets, feed them annually in spring by adding a slow-release fertiliser.

Deadheading

Deadhead regularly to encourage a succession of flowers and prevent the plants’ energy going into seed production.

Most problems with hanging baskets are related to watering. If they are not flowering well it could be one of these causes:

• Underwatering. If compost becomes very dry, it is difficult to rewet. Keep the compost just moist by checking and watering regularly, adding water slowly so itseeps into the compost
• Overwatering.If you water until it runs out of the bottom of the basket,soluble nutrients that the plants need to flower will be washed out of the compost, as well as wastingwater
• Feeding without sufficient watering. Plants roots can be damaged by liquid feed that is not diluted correctly, always follow the instructions on the pack. Water the basket first before using diluted feed

Winter hanging baskets benefit greatly from a sheltered, sunny spot. If the position is exposed, consider giving the basket some protection in the coldest weather. Use either a layer of fleece, or sit the basket on a bucket in a cool greenhouse for just the worst days.

Watch out for insect damage fromaphids,slugs, snails and vine weevil. Powdery mildewsmay be troublesome.