Hanging Baskets

I have had troughs on the window sill for added privacy for a couple of years. However, I think I put in too many plants or else fertilized them too much and they tended to fall off under their own weight and with the soil drying out. Water retaining crystal, last time I checked were quite expensive - I wonder if the gelling agent in babies nappies would do the same trick they swell to about 3-4 times their own volume! You can also get in some garden shops or the net a little pully system for lowering the basket for easy watering. I have found and heard that Miraacle grow blows the plants up too much , phosphogen or even liquid tomato food is a good alternative. ...  Read the complete review

Hanging baskets can brighten up the outside of your home but if you have a shady area in your garden where you want to hang one you must choose the right plants. There are quite a few varieties to choose from that thrive in the shade.....especially 'Busy Lizzies' these can be planted in the top of the basket and the trailing variety 'Spellbound' can be put in the sides to give you lovely colourful displays right through the summer. A really lovely one called 'New Guinea' is perfect to place in the centre it is a lot leafier and the blooms are larger than any other variety. You don't have to stick to just 'Busy Lizzies' 'Begonias' and ...  Read the complete review

Hanging Baskets, you either love them or hate them. I think that with care and time they can really look great. Over the last few years of my hanging baskets I have developed a few hints that might help people in choosing and maintaining them. Reasons for hanging baskets… They can break up bland walls and fences with a splash of colour. They are out of reach of small children (how many plants have I had the flowers heads removed by children over the years). With scented plants they can really add a wonderful heady aroma (being higher the scent seems to be stronger, not that they are closer to my nose you understand). Once the plants ...  Read the complete review

I'm not a great fan of flowers in my hanging baskets as they always die so quickly and never look as good as anyone elses so I feel a complete failure!! There also seems to be competition between hanging basket owners to get the maximum number of blooms thay can in one container! I just don't want to get into a competition I know I haven't a hope in winning!! My best tip for a hanging basket has given me hours of pleasure and a real reward, I grow tomatoes. Does anyone know why tomatoes are fruits instead of vegetables? I do have a few flowers along the bottom to fill up the space but the top is planted with two tomato plants. This is in a ...  Read the complete review

When I moved into my new home last October, I was pleased to see that there were some brackets for hanging baskets already on the walls. Although I hadn't planted any hanging baskets before, I was looking forward to the experience. This garden is very low maintainance, no lawn and small beds, so I thought I would make a splash with my baskets instead :-) I had a fair idea of what to do, but I still read up the best way to plant them, and now summer is hear they have turned out very nicely. I used a selection of small plug plants bought from the garden centre and just mixed and matched and hoped for the best. (I bought ones particularly recommended for ...  Read the complete review