‘Vital’ step you need to follow to keep hanging baskets looking ‘spectacular’

Homebase details the best way to prepare hanging baskets

There is nothing worse than a half-dead hanging basket. Whether gardeners planted their own basket or bought one ready-made, gardening experts have shared some useful tips so gardeners can provide the right care for their hanging basket.

Gardening experts of Groves Nurseries and Garden Centre noted that a “beautiful overflowing hanging basket” is “fabulous for brightening up patios and around doors” but to keep “spectacular results all summer” then there are some “basic steps you must follow”.

1. Watering 

It is recommended to water hanging baskets “often and thoroughly” as they differ from plants grown in the ground.

Plants in containers need to be watered more often than if they were growing in the ground. This is especially true for hanging baskets as they have a lot of plants packed into a small space.

Hanging baskets usually need watering at least once, if not twice, a day as both heat and wind make them “dry out”.

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The experts claimed that a good tip is to reach up and lift the pot from below; if it feels light, it probably needs water.

Another way to check is to put your finger an inch into the soil and if it is dry at that depth then the basket needs to be watered.

2. Deadheading 

Deadheading flowers is a task all gardeners spend time doing over the summer months. The gardening pros highlighted that deadheading is “such a vital part of keeping your plants looking spectacular”.

As flowers fade and die, gardeners need to remove them by pinching them off where they meet the stem.

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The experts said: “This promotes the formation of new flowers. Otherwise, the plant may put its energy into creating seed.”

3. Feed the flowers

Whilst potting compost contains plenty of nutrients and will sustain a hanging basket for a while, regular watering soon takes away the goodness from the soil.

When this happens gardeners can replace these vital nutrients with a fertiliser. These are available as a liquid fertiliser or a dry mix.

Gardeners are advised to only use one or the other, “never both”. Check the instructions and follow them carefully before use.

It is always recommended to feed the plants when the soil is moist and not if plants seem to be wilting.

4. Replace old plants with new ones

It is common for at least some of the plants in a hanging basket to die or finish blooming before summer ends.

The good news is that gardeners don’t have to end up with a half-dead hanging basket spoiling the view. Instead, they can easily replace any dead or dying plants.

Take the basket down and carefully ease out the old plant. Replace it with a new plug or add a bit of extra compost and before long, the surrounding plants will fill the gap.

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