What you’ll need:
- A Hanging Basket (with chain and hook)
- Lining (This may already be included in your basket)
- Small bag of peat-free compost
- Small bag of grit, or equivalent, for drainage
- Plants (enough to fill your basket)
- Gloves (if you don’t want muddy hands)
How to plant up your hanging basket:
Step 1: Firstly, add a layer of grit at the bottom of your basket for drainage
Step 2: Fill your basket with peat-free compost, you can mix in some grit into your compost too.
Step 3: Try out the position of your plants in your basket until you’re happy with the placements and combination.
Step 4: Now you’re ready to plant! Pop each plant out of their pots and give the roots a tease loose. This will help the plant settle into their new pot. Continue with each plant, filling around the edges with more compost and giving the top a firm down to ensure the plants are secure into their new position.
Step 5: (Optional) Add a layer of grit on top – this can help retain moisture and looks smart too
Step 6: Give your new display a good drink of water then it’s ready to hang!
Step 7: Secure the basket in place (I like to add a zip tie to make sure it’s double secure) and then enjoy watching all the plants fill out and trail down.
Choosing your plants:
A good general rule when looking for plants for your hanging basket is to look for combinations of plants that trail, have long flowering periods, and which, together, have a complimentary colour palette.
Below, I’ve listed a few plant varieties inspired by our Dig themes that can be displayed on their own or as a combination.
The Adventure
Vibe: Colourful, Edible, Playful
Colour Palette: Reds, Oranges and Blues
Plant Palette: Lysimachia monelli, Strawberries and orange Nasturtiums
The Mediterranean
Vibe: Informal, Aromatic, Calming
Colour Palette: Blues, Light Purples and SIlvers
Plant Palette: Dwarf Lavender, Helichrysum ‘Silver Mist’, Trailing Rosemary prostratus
The Cottage
Vibe: Timeless, Joyful, Wild
Colour Palette: Pinks, Light and Vibrant Purples and White
Plant Palette: Pink Petunia, Lobelia Trailing Fountain, Erigeron karvinskianus
The Nordic
Vibe: Naturalistic, Ethereal, Seasonal
Colour Palette: Whites, Terracottas and Plums
Plant Palette: Oxalis triangularis, Sweet Alyssum, orange Calibrachoa
The Jungle
Vibe: Bold, Exotic, Abundant
Colour Palette: Greens, Purples and Reds
Plant Palette: Campanula poscharskyana, red Begonia (‘Inferno’ is a great option), Dryopteris erythrosora
The Classic
Vibe: Minimal, Contemporary and Evergreen
Colour Palette: Greens and White
Plant Palette: , white Pelargoniums, white Begonia, Hedera Helix (varigated Ivy)
