Growing up in suburban Dublin, gardening was quite prim. There was a format – a cherry tree planted as an island in the middle of a square lawn surrounded by a border 14in wide filled with blue and white bedding plants.
The one area where self-expression was permitted was the hanging basket. An explosion of colour could be admired here and it was something I had fun with.
This weekend is a good time to get yours up. There are lots of bedding plants available now or you may have grown your own. Many of these are tender, so while you can plant up the basket now, unless you are somewhere coastal, you’ll need to keep it inside in the greenhouse or porch until all threat of frost is gone, which is usually the end of May. If you’ve no space to provide shelter, delay this project until the end of the month.
So what do you need to create a miniature hanging garden? Like pots and containers, larger baskets will dry out less quickly than smaller ones. So choose one at least 12in in diameter. Traditionally, wire baskets are used and these can be lined with moss, coir or liner. Wicker and plastic versions are also available. If you line with plastic, make sure to cut some drainage holes. You can place a small plastic saucer at the bottom before adding compost to create a mini reservoir to catch some water on those days when plants are extra thirsty.
Like hanging out your clothes to dry on a windy day, compost and plants can dry out quickly, particularly if positioned in a sunny spot. Use good quality compost and enhance with water-retaining gel pellets. However, a regular watering schedule is key to good looking baskets and in the peak of summer, they may even require twice daily watering. Bear this in mind when you are placing your hanging basket – choose a spot that’s easy for you to reach. Slow-release fertiliser pellets can feed over the season to promote flowering or liquid-feed weekly to keep blossoms coming.
Hanging baskets are temporary so enjoy the fun of creating a different look each year and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Pick bedding that looks fresh and bushy. Depending on what you like, choose a mix of colours and textures.
Place your basket on top of a bucket to stop it rolling. Add some compost, insert plants through spaces at the bottom of the basket and work your way up, adding compost, then finish with top-level plants. The “thriller, spiller, filler” format works well – this means using a focal plant, e.g. a beautiful fuchsia or pelargonium, surrounding it with fillers such as alyssum, and finish off with trailing plants such as lobelia, begonia or calibrachoa.
You can also plant up baskets with compact or trailing cherry tomatoes. Or if you’ve always wanted a herb garden, cram your basket with parsley, basil, chives and marjoram.
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