Hanging Baskets

Create Your Own Hanging Baskets

With Moss Lining

Hanging baskets are so easy to make. Instead of going to the Home & Garden Shop to purchase an already made hanging basket; try to create your own this summer.

Items you will needed:

                                  Water
                                  Scissors
                                  Sticky Tape
                                  Hanging Basket
                                  Bucket or Big Pot
                                  A bit of plastic (bag)

                                  Compost (for hanging baskets)
                                  A piece of polythene (for base of basket)
                                  Bedding plants (tall, short and trailing)

                                  Moss Liner (from Home & Garden Shop)

1) Start by placing your hanging basket on top of the bucket or pot to make it easier to work with your basket.  Most hanging baskets do not have a flat base so therefore you will need to position it on a stand. container or buckets to balance it.

2) Place the moss liner inside your hanging basket.  If you choose to use loose moss instead of a moss liner, click on Loose Moss for the step-by-step instructions to follow. 

3) Cut a circular piece of polythene and place at the bottom your hanging basket. This is to help keep your basket moist.

4) Put in around 3 inches of the compost mixture into the basket.  Purchase a compost that is for hanging baskets and containers which have retaining gels in it to help to keep the moisture in the hanging basket.

5) At this level in the hanging basket you will want to add some trailing plants.

6) Using your shears, cut several slits (crosses) in the liner where you want to place your trailing plants (ivy is good).

7) Roll the top growth of your trailing plants in plastic, using tape to hold it in place.

8) From the inside out, guide the plastic end of your plants through the slits and then remove the plastic.  Be sure that the plant roots are in  the center of the basket so that they can take root in the compost.

9) For the top outer side add more trailing plants all around the basket so that they fall and hang over the sides of the hanging basket.

10) Top up with more compost at this point.

11) Add in the plants to fill the top of the hanging basket. Be sure to plant the tallest plants in the middle of the basket.

12) Now it is time to water your hanging basket and top up with compost where needed. Give it a good watering and allow the water to be absorbed then add more compost to areas that have sunken.

Sit back and watch your hanging basket grow and take on color and beauty.

Tips:

Be sure that you position the roots of your side bedding plants to the center of the basket.

Water your hanging basket every day either in the early morning or late evening so that your hanging basket does not dry out.

Be sure to add a miracle grow to your water at least once a week to help the plants to grow.