How to Plant and Maintain a Hanging Basket

Before the recent trend of vertical gardening, there was something much more classic – hanging baskets. Learn how to plant and maintain a hanging basket so that it looks great all season long in this video by Better Homes and Gardens:

Hanging baskets are great for small gardens as they help maximize your space. They also look good on entryways and back porches and are a lovely way to accentuate your home’s architecture.

The first thing you need to consider is the location of the hanging basket and whether it will be sunny or shady. This will help determine the types of plants that you pick. You should also think about your color scheme and stick to complementary or related colors to give your arrangement a cohesive look. The key to making a good hanging basket is to have trailing plants that come off the edge of the planter.

Start with an empty hanging basket. Make sure the hooks and all the hardware are sturdy enough to hold the container once it’s wet. Partially fill the basket with lightweight potting soil. Add plants in an asymmetrical arrangement; you can pack them in if you want for an instant finished look. Place trailing plants near the edge. Fill any empty pockets with soil. You want all sides of the basket to look good.

Keep an eye on the planter over time and prune flowers as needed. If one plant seems to be taking over, you can remove it and put it in a separate container.

Hanging baskets can dry out quickly, so make sure they are watered daily; you can use an irrigation wand. Fertilize them regularly with a diluted all-purpose fertilizer.