Hanging Baskets ~ tips for creating beautiful hanging displays

Hanging baskets are great, not only for your flower viewing pleasure, but also to grow some of the many larger trailing and vine plants. Hanging baskets can be planted with many types of plants started from seeds, cuttings, roots, bulbs or young plants—making colorful displays for your enjoyment.

When selecting greenery and flowers for your hanging baskets, ensure that they all share the same growing requirements. Some examples—all sun-loving plants, all shade loving plants, plants that require little water or plants that require lots of water.

You can also create hanging planters that will bloom throughout the seasons, by using spring, summer and fall bulbs or plants combined in a large hanging basket. Or you might create a separate basket for each blooming season and replace them as the seasons change.

While there are many types of hanging baskets that you can create, the most widely used plants for hanging baskets are Petunias, Impatiens, Geraniums, Fushias, green ivy or vines, Viscaria, Vinca, Periwinkles, Browallia, Marigolds and Brown Eyed Susan Vines.

Hanging baskets generally require much more frequent watering and fertilizing than other planters. In the hottest season, hanging baskets can require watering once or twice a day. Be sure to test your soil's dryness frequently in the heat of the summer. Be sure to check out the many styles of self-watering hanging baskets that are available online. These planters are a great aid in making sure your hanging baskets are adequately watered throughout the season.

Hanging baskets can also require more fertilizing than standing plants as the nutrients tend to be washed through the soil with more frequent watering. Sprinkle some time release plant fertilizer in your hanging planters when you finish planting and use a water-soluble fertilizer every second week. You'll be amazed at the difference this technique makes in the health of your hanging baskets. They will also last much longer through the season when they receive lots of water and plant nutrition.

In order for your hanging baskets to grow into full displays of flowers and plants, it is a good idea to rotate your hanging baskets occasionally so that they get the even exposure to sun, wind and heat. You can find automatic plant rotators that will do the job for you.

Experiment with different plants, then water and fertilize regularly and your hanging baskets will become beautiful to enjoy all summer!

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